Two of New Zealand's best harness drivers could face long suspensions and fines, after failing alcohol breath tests at a Canterbury race meeting.
On Sunday, Blair Orange and Bob Butt were immediately stood down at Motukarara, after blowing higher than the 100 micrograms per litre of breath limit before the first race.
The offence was the second of its kind for Orange, who's regarded as New Zealand's leading driver. In 2016, he was fined and suspended for the same indiscretion, when he failed a breath test just 45 minutes before he was scheduled to race in Omakau.
Early last year, the Canterbury-based Orange became just the seventh Kiwi to record 2000 wins and has won the last two drivers premierships.
A Judicial Control Authority hearing will decided the pair's fate in the coming weeks.
