In Queensland Racing Integrity Commission v Endresz; Racing Queensland Board v Endresz [2024] QCA 76, the Supreme Court of Queensland's Court of Appeal addressed appeals regarding the disqualification of a racehorse, Alligator Blood, following the detection of a prohibited substance. The primary issue revolved around whether the owners of Alligator Blood were entitled to procedural fairness before the horse's disqualification and if they had a right to appeal the stewards’ decision. The Court concluded that the owners did have a contractually enshrined entitlement to procedural fairness which was not duly provided, hence ruling that the stewards' decision to disqualify the horse violated principles of natural justice. Additionally, despite arguments to the contrary, the Court found that the owners also possessed a right to appeal this decision. Consequently, the Court dismissed the appeals by Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and Racing Queensland Board, upholding the declaration by the primary judge that the disqualification of Alligator Blood was void due to the procedural fairness breach.
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