Matt Cumani Cops Training Ban

Matt Cumani, who has been training out of Ballarat Racecourse in Victoria, Australia since last year, has been suspended until August and fined A$20,000 after pleading guilty to charges relating to his failure to properly notify stewards of a strangles outbreak in his stables last October, according to published reports. Cumani pleaded guilty to charges of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing, and for not notifying authorities that he had a horse in his care infected with a highly contagious disease.

A hearing on Tuesday revealed that Cumani became aware of signs of strangles in a horse in his care on Oct. 27, but failed to notify stewards until Nov. 23, despite being warned several times by his veterinarian. During that interim period, Cumani held an open-day at his stables on Nov. 19 and also prepared Grey Lion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the G1 Melbourne Cup from the quarantine centre in Werribee.

“Luckily the spread of disease was not as bad as what it could have been,” Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board Judge John Bowman said at the hearing. “A clear message must be sent to trainers in the industry that the reporting of outbreaks of listed diseases must be done in the quickest possible manner.”

He added, “instead of quarantining your stable of horses, you simply continued to train and certainly took some measures in relation to controlling it, it was no means complete. Your primary obligation is to report to the stewards immediately, instead you pressed on, possibly influenced by the fact you were going to have your first Melbourne Cup runner. Essentially you put your interests ahead of those of the stewards, your fellow trainers, proprietors of other racing establishments and your owners.”

Terry Henderson, principal of OTI Racing, part-owner of Grey Lion, provided a written reference supporting Cumani which helped to reduce his suspension, but also reflected his disappointment with Cumani's handling of the situation.

“Mr Henderson's lengthy reference is particularly well- balanced and expressed, apart from strongly supporting you, it also makes apparent Mr Henderson's anger and disappointment at what you have done in jeopardising not only your own career and training operations but also potentially the operations of others,” Bowman said. “Strangles is highly contagious and Mr Henderson's observation in going beyond his own direct interest and speaking about the welfare of others is very appropriate and important.”