News that a racing horse has tested positive for cocaine and claims the sport is awash with drugs has a Sydney Anglican involved in the city's racing scene calling for immediate intervention.
Sydney Turf Club board candidate Megan Lavender says law enforcement authorities have to get tougher on the sale of illegal drugs near race courses and sports grounds.
"The revelations that cocaine use has reached epidemic proportions means it's clearly time we saw the authorities come together to work constructively on a crackdown," she says.
Long time trainer Gai Waterhouse has told Racing NSW Officials that cocaine use had reached epidemic proportions, after her staff were implicated in a drugs inquiry.
Miss Lavender, a parish administrator from St Albans, Five Dock says there must be greater cooperation between the agencies responsible.
"Local law enforcement authorities should be working closely and cooperatively with course officials and other sporting groups to ensure that we are not only tough on drugs in the sporting field, but also tough on drugs around the sporting field," she says.
Miss Lavender will be taking her concerns to the Sydney Turf Club as she contests the casual vacancy created by the resignation of Chairman Bruce McHugh in May this year.
Her calls have already received the support of lobby group Drug Free Australia.
The former Canada Bay City councillor worked as an aide to the Federal Minister for Sport and Minister for the Sydney 2000 Games, Jackie Kelly.
But her personal interest in the issue stretches back to her grandfather's ownership of championship horses and stems from a deep desire to see the purity of the sport preserved.
"I’ve always been interested in horses and because of that I found the motivation to be involved," she says.
"Racing is just one of those great social opportunities " and one of the last, great opportunities to wear hats," she laughs.
But she believes the present state of affairs is anything but humorous.
"What we need is a complete crack down by police and the drug squad on these so-called drug dens," says Ms Lavender.
