Racing: End in sight in blue magic drug hearings

After months on the slowe burner the blue magic controversy is set to re-ignite.

Resolution of the two cases - against Canterbury trainers Nigel McGrath and Mark Purdon - moved closer to reality yesterday when McGrath withdrew his High Court challenge against Harness Racing New Zealand and the Judicial Control Authority.

McGrath had challenged HRNZ's right to proceed with charges against him after he was handed a three-year sentence last September for three positive swabs returned by his horses to the substance propantheline bromide, commonly known as blue magic.

McGrath was stunned by last September's decision, which will almost certainly end his career and, with some serious financial backing, was heading for the High Court.

But early confidence from McGrath's lawyers they could get his sentence squashed seems to have dissapated.

Those lawyers withdrew the challenge yesterday, meaning McGrath's appeals against his sentence will now be heard by a JCA appeals committee, comprising two judges, on June 23 and 24.

McGrath is appealing against not only the decision to find him guilty but his penalty, one of the harshest in New Zealand racing history.

The pending High Court challenge had also placed the hearing of leading trainer Mark Purdon on hold, although that case will can be heard by the JCA now.

Purdon's case is different from McGrath's in that HRNZ have no positive swabs from any Purdon horses on which to base their investigation.

HRNZ boss Edward Rennell said yesterday's developments were a positive in that the cases will be heard through racing's JCA structure, rather than heading into the High Court system.

"I think that is a good thing and I know a lot of people will be happy when the cases are heard because this has been going on a long time," said Rennell.

No date has been set for Purdon's hearing but Rennell was hopeful both that hearing and McGrath's appeal will be finished before season's end on July 31.

Feeling blue

* The blue magic drug appeals/cases can finally be heard.

* A High Court challenge against Harness Racing New Zealand by trainer Nigel McGrath was withdrawn yesterday.

* McGrath's appeal against a three-year disqualification will be heard by the JCA appeals committee next month.

* That appeal and the hearing of charges against Mark Purdon are likely to be finalised by August.