Racing: Drug revealed to silence silly stories

Lisa Cropp's own emphatic denials in part led to racing authorities naming the drug - methamphetamine - for which she returned a positive result during a random raceday test.

Chief racecourse inspector John McKenzie said so much bizarre speculation and denial had taken place since Cropp was advised of the problem on Thursday morning that there had been little option but to reveal all the facts at 6pm on Saturday.

"It was getting to a ridiculous stage," McKenzie told the Herald yesterday.

"There were stories that NZTR [New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing] had botched the charges, stories that drugs were not involved at all and then we had Lisa saying the charges were not appropriate.

"There was so much speculation that we had to make a statement. It had got to the point were our integrity was put to question and we were not about to let that happen."

NZTR and its racecourse inspectors have traditionally attracted criticism for the cone of silence they generally place on positive drugs tests on racehorses and racing license holders, at least until charges are laid.

"We would normally never come out and say as much as we have, but Allan Fenwick [NZTR CEO] and I agreed at 6pm yesterday that in everyone's interests a statement had to be made."

Lisa Cropp will not accept that methamphetamine, or any other drug, is at issue. She emphatically denies taking drugs.

When approached three times by the Herald on Friday, the champion jockey on each occasion denied that she had been advised she had failed a drugs test when she arrived at Hawera races on Thursday morning.

John McKenzie re-confirmed yesterday that Cropp had been told on Thursday the drug involved was methamphetamine.

Cropp was one of 17 jockeys required to provide a urine sample at Te Rapa races last Saturday week, a procedure overseen by Waikato-based racecourse inspector Bryan McKenzie.

John McKenzie said Cropp had created the situation where a statement had to be made.

"If she hadn't said anything publicly we wouldn't have."

Cropp has engaged Auckland criminal lawyer Barry Hart to handle her case. McKenzie said there would be dialogue between all parties in advance of the possibility of charges being laid.

If charges are laid, which looks inevitable, it is likely to be in the short term.

Cropp will be facing the worst odds of her racing life - Leanne Isherwood is the only jockey in recent decades who has escaped penalty when facing a drugs charge.

A nurse giving evidence for NZTR became confused about an issue of fact and Isherwood was acquitted.

In all other cases the person charged either pleaded guilty or was found guilty. If Cropp is found guilty she will face a lengthy disqualification.

Lisa Cropp was handed back her jockey's licence on Friday night on receipt of a clear urine sample and a doctor's certificate.

It meant she could ride this weekend and she won on Frothy in Race 1 at Rotorua. She had been originally engaged to ride Frothy and got back on the horse when replacement Reese Jones declared he would have to post overweight.

Cropp won first up at Paeroa yesterday, Waotu Sands in Race 2.