Ten horses have potentially been exposed to drugs while on their way to this weekend's prestigious Harness Jewels meeting in Cambridge.
Harness racing trainer Natalie Rasmussen. Photo: NZ Harness
The horses, nine of which are from the Mark Purdon-Natalie Rasmussen stable, were traveling from Auckland to Cambridge for the event when the possible contamination happened.
The trainers, two of the country's best, notified stewards yesterday after the discovery.
The Racing Integrity Unit has advised the New Zealand Racing Board of the possible breach and they've agreed to suspend betting on the races the horses are scheduled to race in on Saturday.
The ten horses are Princess Tiffany, Kayla Marie, Bubbled Up, Winterfell, Sicario, Cheerful, Funatthebeach, Stress Factor and War Dan Delight from Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen's stable as well as Dibaba from Terry and Glenys Chmiel's stable.
Two of those horses, Princess Tiffany and Winterfell are short-priced favourites in their races while Sicario is strongly in the market as well.
The results of the testing will be revealed tomorrow afternoon.
-RNZ