Dillon outed over drug test

Leading Rockhampton jockey Luke Dillon has been stood down from riding by racing stewards after an abnormality from a routine drug test taken at Townsville races last week.

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IN A sensation that has rocked local racing circles, premier jockey Luke Dillon has been stood down from riding by racing stewards following an abnormality surfacing from a routine drug urine test taken from him at Townsville races last week.

Callaghan Park racecourse was abuzz with rumours when Dillon (pictured, right), a regular and obliging early morning track work rider there was inexplicably absent from his regular duties at the track on Wednesday and yesterday mornings.

However, later yesterday Racing Queensland Limited chairman of stewards Wade Birch officially explained Dillon’s absence.

“Jockey Luke Dillon has been stood down from riding since Tuesday following the result of a discrepancy detected in a routine urine sample taken from him at the Townsville race meeting on August 24,” Birch said.

In accordance with official RQL procedures in such cases, Dillon will remain stood down pending the findings of a second sample – a referee sample which has been despatched to a separate laboratory for analysis.

Urine samples are split into two separate vials when taken with the first sent to the Government Science Laboratory for testing while the second remains frozen until such time as the first is cleared or found to have a discrepancy.

In the latter finding, the referee sample is then tested and if a discrepancy is confirmed, the provider faces an exhausting steward’s inquiry.

Birch said the result of the referee sample in Dillon’s case should be determined by early next week.

If the referee sample is cleared, it is believed that stewards cannot proceed with any disciplinary action and Dillon will be cleared to continue riding, possibly on the provision of a subsequent clear urine sample being provided.

In the mean time Dillon remains stood down from all forms of riding under racing rules.

Dillon is one of Rockhampton’s most popular jockeys and in the season just finished (2009/10) he clinched his fourth Rockhampton senior jockeys or apprentice jockey’s premiership winning title following successes in 2005/06, 2007/08 and 2008/09.

His exclusion from riding will cost Dillon dearly as he would have been in demand at both the Cairns Amateur Carnival today and tomorrow or either at tomorrow’s Emerald races while he has also lost potential income by being ineligible to ride at Mackay’s TAB races on Tuesday.

Current Rockhampton riding star Adrian Coome, hot on the heels of six race winners in Townsville over the last fortnight, is understandably in heavy demand from North Queensland trainers at the Cairns Amateurs.

Coome has 10 rides there today and tomorrow including rides for premier NQ trainer Roy Chillemi.

Meanwhile, with Dillon’s unavailability, Gatton trainer Gary Teal has snapped-up Matthew Cant to ride Afleet Boy who is attempting to win his fourth consecutive race in a quality Open Handicap (1300m) at a busy Emerald race card tomorrow. Dillon won on Afleet Boy at Rockhampton and then Yeppoon last Saturday and under 61kg at Emerald he will have his final lead-up to his main mission the $15,250 Thangool Cup (1600m) next week.

Thangool Race Club president Pat Brennan yesterday announced a number of trophies for trainers involved with winners and “also rans” at the Thangool meeting which is set to be a record breaker.