Western Australia’s leading trainers Grant and Alana Williams have been charged by Racing WA stewards for bringing a horse, Starry Heights, to the races with a prohibited substance—Ritalinic Acid, a metabolite of the ADHD medication Ritalin—found in its system. The six-year-old gelding suffered a fatal injury during the Kalgoorlie Cup and was euthanised, with a post-mortem revealing the banned substance. The Williamses, who had their trainers’ licence rescinded in January and remain provisionally suspended, deny knowingly administering the substance and are awaiting a stewards inquiry, with no hearing date set yet.

Racing WA has maintained the Williamses’ suspension to protect the integrity of the sport, emphasizing the seriousness of the charge involving a permanently banned substance. Meanwhile, two of their top horses, Watch Me Rock and Storyville, have been transferred to another trainer to continue racing preparations. Despite the ongoing investigation, the Williams stable has been highly successful this season, with 39 winners and nearly $3.8 million in prize money earned since August.