Racing scandal: New text messages open new mystery and “big concern”

More damning text messages have been revealed that strike at the heart of racing integrity.

One day after a series of explosive text messages revealed even Melbourne Cup horses could have been doping targets, new text messages revealed by the Herald Sun suggest drug-testing protocols were compromised by secret tip-offs.

The text messages indicate charged stablehand Greg Nelligan was told that an Aquanita Racing horse would not be subjected to pre-race blood testing at the Geelong track.

When Nelligan asks an unknown trainer “No test at all or no late blood?”, the unknown trainer answers: “He say no test blood.”

The journalist who has published the text messages, Leo Schlink, told Ross and John the aforementioned “He” was crucial to the story.

“How someone knew the identity of the horses on the list that would be tested is a big concern,” he said.

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Schlink said he’s seen “no evidence” Melbourne Cup horses received any of the top-ups at the centre of the scandal.

But he added that if they did, “it’s a devastating blow to racing”.

Five trainers are among eight people charged with a total of 271 racing offences dating to 2010.