A Warrnambool trainer who voluntarily submitted his horse for a drug test to clear it for racing has instead had the gelding barred from Melbourne Cup week after the sample returned a positive to the substance formestane, leaving up to 50 owners unable to see him race on Oaks Day.
Major Share, a gelding trained by Adam Chambers, tested positive to formestane after Chambers drove the horse to Hamilton races seven weeks ago to provide a urine sample, hoping to have the horse cleared to return to racing after 12 months on the sidelines. It is the second positive swab for Major Share in a year; the first was at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day last year.
The substance formestane, used in some countries to treat breast cancer, has baffled the racing industry since it first appeared almost four years ago. It is not available as a drug in Australia. Two theories exist: that it is produced naturally by horses, as it is in humans, or that it is a performance-enhancing supplement. UK research pointing to it being naturally occurring has not been peer-reviewed or published.
Thirteen Victorian stables have had horses disqualified since February 2023, all protesting innocence. Racing Victoria has commissioned its own research through Racing Analytical Services Laboratory, a global study of more than 15 target compounds including formestane, expected to take 12 months.
Major Share will not be rubbed out because Chambers requested the sample outside a race, trial or jumpout. Owners had been booking their tickets to Flemington before packing away their suits.
Retired school teacher Greg May, an owner of Major Share, said he had been involved with horses for 50 years and this was the best horse he had ever been involved with. "To not be able to see him race because of something, which all the evidence points to occurs naturally and in minute doses, so it has no impact on his physical performance whatsoever, is incredibly frustrating," he said. May said trainer Chambers was more a victim than the owners because his reputation had been impinged. He added that some owners would not invest again because of how they had been treated.
May said Racing Victoria had dropped the ball by not amending rules to accept that trainers were not at fault and that the substance occurs naturally. Racing Victoria told this masthead it is bound by the Australian rules of racing and cannot make state-based exceptions.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case highlights ongoing uncertainty over formestane, a substance that has baffled racing authorities and led to multiple disqualifications since 2023
- A trainer's voluntary test returning positive undermines the industry's ability to distinguish accidental exposure from doping
- Owners face financial losses and disillusionment, potentially reducing investment in Victorian racing
Background
Formestane is a substance used in some countries as a breast cancer treatment but is not available as a drug in Australia. It first appeared in Victorian racing about four years ago, and since February 2023, 13 stables have had horses disqualified after positive tests. All have protested innocence. Racing Victoria has commissioned a year-long global study through Racing Analytical Services Laboratory to examine formestane and other compounds.
Key Perspectives
Owners (via Greg May): Say the substance occurs naturally and in minute doses with no performance impact, and that Racing Victoria should accept trainers are not at fault and amend the rules or suspend penalties until research is finalised.
Racing Victoria: Says it is bound by the Australian rules of racing and cannot make state-based exceptions; a horse must be banned for 12 months if it tests positive at a race meeting, trial or jumpouts.
What to Watch
- Whether the Racing Victoria-commissioned global study into formestane produces peer-reviewed results within 12 months
- Potential further legal or regulatory challenges from owners and trainers as cases accumulate
- The Victoria Racing Club elections later this month, where members in the nursery carpark on Derby Day may raise concerns about facilities
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTrainer Adam Chambers requested the drug test, and the positive formestane result left Major Share unable to run during Cup week.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “This horse is barred from running in Cup week after failing a drug test – that its trainer requested.”
- SupportedA voluntary swab for Major Share returned positive for formestane, disrupting owners’ Oaks Day plans.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “up to 50 owners have had their Cup week dreams ruined because their horse Major Share has produced a left-field positive to formestane”
- SupportedChambers arranged the voluntary test to clear Major Share to return to racing, drove him to Hamilton races seven weeks earlier, and provided a urine sample.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Warrnambool-based Chambers organised for the swab to be taken so that Major Share could be cleared to return to racing. He drove the horse to Hamilton races seven weeks ago to provide the urine sample.”
- SupportedUp to 50 owners were affected, and Major Share could not run on Oaks Day.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “up to 50 owners have had their Cup week dreams ruined”
- SupportedThis was Major Share’s second positive in 12 months; the first was at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day the previous year.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “It is the second time Major Share has thrown a positive swab in 12 months”
- SupportedFormestane is used in some countries to treat breast cancer and is not available as a drug in Australia.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “When it comes to formestane, which is used in some countries to treat breast cancer”
- SupportedThe proposed explanations are that formestane occurs naturally or is a performance-enhancing supplement; UK research pointing to natural occurrence has not been peer-reviewed or published.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “There are two trains of thought. The substance is produced naturally by horses as it is in humans, or it is a performance-enhancing supplement. ... the research is still yet to be peer-reviewed and published”
- SupportedThirteen Victorian stables have had horses disqualified since February 2023, and all protested their innocence.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “So far, 13 Victorian stables have had horses disqualified since February 2023. All have protested their innocence.”
- SupportedRacing Victoria commissioned a global study through Racing Analytical Services Laboratory of more than 15 target compounds, including formestane, expected to take 12 months.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Racing Analytical Services Laboratory, which is part-owned by Racing Victoria, will conduct a global study of more than 15 target compounds including formestane, 4-hydroxytestosterone, 6a-hydroxyandrostenedione and DHEA. The study will take 12 months.”
- SupportedMajor Share would not be formally rubbed out because Chambers requested the sample outside a race, trial or jumpout.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “At least in this latest case, Major Share will not be rubbed out because Chambers requested the sample outside a race, trial or jumpout.”
- SupportedGreg May said: “To not be able to see him race because of something, which all the evidence points to occurs naturally and in minute doses, so it has no impact on his physical performance whatsoever, is incredibly frustrating,”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““To not be able to see him race because of something, which all the evidence points to occurs naturally and in minute doses, so it has no impact on his physical performance whatsoever, is incredibly frustrating.”
- SupportedMay said Chambers was more of a victim than the owners because his reputation had been impinged.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““If anything, I think Adam is more of a victim in this than the owners because his reputation has been impinged.””