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One of Australia’s most formidable racing operations has been suspended after a runner tested positive for an ADHD drug after breaking down and dying after a race. Husband and wife Grant and Alana Williams dominate racing in Western Australia. From their base in Perth they have trained 854 winners, including 12 at Group 1 level.

But they have not had a runner since January 18 when racing local stewards opened an inquiry after a prohibited substance was found in a sample taken from Starry Heights, a nine-time winning gelding, who died after being pulled up lame in a Listed race at Kalgoorlie in October last year.

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The charge stated: “Mr and Mrs Williams, as the co-licensed trainers, brought and presented Starry Heights for the purposes of participating in Race 8 at Kalgoorlie on 4 October 2025 where the Prohibited List A substance Ritalinic Acid was detected in a post-mortem sample taken after it had competed in and been eased out of the race.”

Ritalinic Acid is commonly known as ritalin, which is prescribed to humans to treat ADHD. It is a prohibited substance in horses at all times.

The trainers said in a statement: “We are extremely surprised and concerned by this finding. At no stage have we knowingly administered, or authorised the administration of, any prohibited substance to Starry Heights.

“We have no explanation at this time as to how this substance could have entered the horse’s system.”

Williams pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation and hoped it would be concluded as quickly as possible. However on Thursday Racing WA stewards confirmed their suspension would remain in place until the case has concluded.

While promising to deal with matter "expeditiously" the stewards said, “the continued and prolonged participation of a person subject to inquiry in relation to a permanently banned substance of this nature would not in the stewards' view be in the best interests of racing in the circumstances of this case.”