Racing: Small disqualification appeal hearing today

The latest chapter in New Zealand harness racing's longest legal saga will be written in Christchurch today when South Auckland trainer Geoff Small appeals his six-month disqualification from training.

However, it won't be a normal appeal, as Small has been granted a re-hearing of the two charges dating back to an Addington meeting in October.

That means a new JCA panel and the opportunity to introduce new evidence or even try a whole different legal strategy than when the first hearing was held.

The two charges Small will face today date back to the scratching of Changeover from a $11,000 race at Addington on October 16.

Changeover was scratched by the club veterinarian after aggravating an abrasion on his hip travelling to the track.

Small, who was not present at the meeting, believed Changeover should have been allowed to start and abused the vet, which resulted in one of the charges that will be heard today.

The other relates to stablemate All Tiger not being presented on the track for the same race after Small informed stable staff present not to start the horse.

Small was charged with an act detrimental to harness racing for failing to present All Tiger for the race.

When the two charges were originally heard Small was found guilty and disqualified from training for six months but was granted a new hearing on appeal.

Although the JCA have put aside two days for this hearing recent history likely suggests they will reserve their judgement and release it next week.

Even then, if Small is found guilty again, it is unlikely he will actually have to serve any disqualification without further delay.

That is because he has already been granted a judicial review of the entire JCA process, so if he loses in the next two days he can challenge the process further.

That judicial review is set down for February so it would be at least March before Small is actually out of the training ranks, if, in fact, he is found guilty.

What is less certain is where Victorian officials stand with their charges relating to the positive swab to aminocaproic acid returned by the Small-trained Zenad at Moonee Valley last February.

Charges relating to aminocaproic acid have been somewhat clouded by the recent Sydney judgement stating tranexamic acid, which has similar properties, is not performance enhancing under current rules.

Harness Racing Victoria stewards have yet to decide whether to press ahead with their aminocaproic positive hearings and they could be guided by an appeal against a disqualification for using the substance which will be heard in Tasmania today.

All of which means what for punters?

Regardless of what happens in Christchurch in the next two days expect Small to still be training until at least Auckland Cup time.

After that, legal technicalities, exact rule wordings and expert advice will probably decide the future of harness racing's most controversial figure.

NEXT ROUND
* Controversial trainer Geoff Small's re-hearing of charges which saw him disqualified for six months will be heard today.
* One of the charges relates to Small abusing a club veterinarian for scratching his star pacer Changeover before a race in October.
* Small reacted by not presenting All Tiger on the track for the same race, resulting in him being charged with an act detrimental to harness racing.
* Regardless of the outcome Small looks certain to still be training until at least March.