In an Australian first, a number of stablehands at Randwick and Hawkesbury were on Tuesday randomly tested for banned substances by stewards.

Following the Love You Honey affair, in which a stablehand inadvertently contaminated the Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper with cocaine, Racing NSW passed a rule allowing for the random drug testing of licensed stable staff.

Stewards spent the last few months alerting stablehands to the requirements of the new drug testing rule before implementing it for the first time.

All trainers who had staff tested were supportive of the policy, which will continue to be enforced at random by stewards at licensed stables and training centres throughout NSW.