The successful drugs appeal by harness trainer Geoff Small in Sydney could have major implications for drug testing regimes in Australia and New Zealand.
Small trains Changeover who tested positive to anti-bleeding drug tranexamic acid after winning the Len Smith Mile at the New South Wales track Menangle in April.
He pleaded guilty to allowing the substance to be administered to Changeover and was disqualified for two years.
He appealed and the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal upheld the appeal, quashing the disqualification and restoring Changeover as winner of the race.
At the heart of the appeal was whether tranexamic acid was a prohibited substance under Australian harness racing rules.
Tribunal chairman Judge John McGuire heard four days of scientific evidence, before ruling that it was not prohibited because it was not capable of acting on the cardiovascular or respiratory systems.
He accepted that it was used therapeutically and was not performance enhancing.
Small said he had used it to treat Changeover and other horses to combat the effects of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
His veterinarian said Changeover suffered from quite severe inflammatory airway disease and tranexamic acid was one of the various remedies used to control the problem.
The veterinarian set out an appropriate dosage and recommended it not be used within 48 hours of a race.
He said it was used on Changeover from November 2008 until April 2009.
Judge McGuire said the decision did not involve any matter of principle or general application.
"It is the firm view of the tribunal that it should not be regarded as any form of precedent or any statement of principle and that it should have no bearing upon any matters awaiting determination involving any other drug or substance which may have been detected in some swabbing process.
"The tribunal does not consider that it has made any statement which could in any way impact upon any outstanding hearings or appeals which involve any other substances, such as aminocaproic acid."
Another Small-trained pacer, Zenad, has tested positive to aminocaproic acid in Victoria.
There has been no decision whether Small will be charged.
Harness Racing New South Wales chief executive Sam Nati said: "Notwithstanding this result, there is clearly inefficiency within the harness racing rules for dealing with such matters and it needs to be reviewed immediately.
"To that end, HRNSW has already made representation to Harness Racing Australia."
Harness Racing New Zealand general manager Edward Rennell said it would have to review the decision to see if there were any implications to its prohibited substance regulations.
"Our understanding is that it would still be a prohibited substance within our prohibited substance regulations," he said.
There have been no positive tests to tranexamic acid in New Zealand.
Changeover and one thoroughbred are the only two horses to test positive to it in Australia.
Small has appealed a six-month ban in New Zealand over his late scratching of All Tiger and subsequent abuse of veterinarian Corin Murfitt at Addington in October.
A rehearing will be held next month.
• Cambridge harness driver Philip Butcher has been suspended for three weeks over his controversial drive of Awesome Armbro in the New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington last month.
The Judicial Control Authority had earlier dismissed a charge of improper driving against Butcher, but found him guilty of driving Awesome Armbro in the New Zealand Free-For-All in a manner which diminished the chances of the horse winning.
It said the actions of Butcher were a serious breach of the rule.
Butcher is suspended from the end of racing on Christmas Eve and can resume on January 14.
He was ordered to pay the JCA $300 in costs.
• Woman In Black created a fine impression when she qualified at Orari on Saturday.
The Courage Under Fire-Feisty Woman 3yr-old won her test by 11 lengths.
She ran the 2000m in 2.36.5, 6.8 seconds inside the required time.
Feisty Woman has left Harper Road (by Christian Cullen) the winner of four races from the stable of Gerard O'Reilly, who trains Woman In Black.
• The Tower, who cleared maiden trotting ranks at Rangiora on Sunday is a brother to Sovereignty.
The Tower was a $20,000 purchase by Phil and Bev Williamson at the 2007 premier yearling sale.
The Monarchy-Lockerup gelding finished third at Rangiora in March in one start for the Williamsons.
The Tower was then transferred to Tim Butt and Phil Anderson after a change of ownership.
The Tower was having his third start on Sunday.
Sovereignty has won 15 races and $384,000.
Lockerup, the dam of Sovereignty and The Tower, has also left La Femme D'Argent (six wins).
The Butt-Anderson stable also won on Sunday with To Ri Archie.
