Feb 20th, 2018

Feb 20th, 2018

The extent of the doping scandal that has rocked the horse racing industry has been exposed through a series of secret texts which suggest some of Australia’s biggest races were involved, including possibly the 2015 Melbourne Cup.

The texts were uncovered by integrity investigators and obtained by Melbourne's The Herald Sun and detail conversations between some of the country’s leading trainers and stable staff over the alleged administration of illegal doses of performance-enhancing sodium bicarbonate in a practice known as tubing just before a race.

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Trainers Robert Smerdon and Liam Birchley, and stablehand Greg Nelligan are amongst eight people charged last month with a total of 271 offences dating back to 2010.

The most explosive text came on the eve of the 2015 Melbourne Cup where Birchley and stablehand Nelligan discuss using "top-ups", allegedly a reference to a cocktail of prohibited substances often administered within minutes of competition.

Trainer Robert Smerdon is one of eight people that has been charged in the horse racing doping scandal. (AAP)

Nelligan responds that he'll need a "wheelbarrow" to carry them all after Nelligan requests a "top up" because Smerdon has "ordered 5" before referencing the Cup.

"I'll be walking funny, got two Cup horses as well. Don’t tell Robert," Nelligan said.

Birchley responds, "Mercenary!" before adding, "Which ones are we backing?"

There is also evidence that Smerdon's VRC Oaks winner, Mosheen, may have been illegally treated on racecourses including Sydney's Rosehill track before contesting Group I races.

Smerdon sent a text to Nelligan on the day Mosheen won the 2012 Vinery Stakes at Rosehill asking him to, "Take the girls back to the other stable so Stuey can give them tickets and send them on their way. I'm distracting Naima while Stuey, you and Merrick get Mosheen done."

Mosheen wins the 2012 Vinery Stakes at Rosehill. (AAP)

The eight people charged include Smerdon, Birchley, Nelligan, trainers Tony Vasil, Stuart Webb and Trent Penutto, stable employee Danny Garland and office worker Denise Nelligan.

"These are very serious allegations and the Racing Victoria Integrity Services Department and our stewards have worked swiftly to fully investigate these matters resulting in the laying of charges against eight people today," Racing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson said last month.

"It is vital that in order to maintain a world-class thoroughbred racing industry that we have a world-class integrity regime that is strictly enforced.

"Where we have a breach of the rules, our stewards and Integrity Services Department will take appropriate action to protect the integrity of the sport."