Starting as a $2.50 favourite in the small field, Littlechrissyadios flashed home to beat stablemate Hares Crossing, with Kennedy saying after the race he thought about putting another week's work into the gelding before.

The horse was found to have traces of ibuprofen in its system, with the drug used for fever, pain and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Harness Racing NSW regulatory manager Reid Sanders said Kennedy would have to front a hearing to explain how the substance was found in the horse.

"It's subject to an inquiry now we just have to set a date. Mr Kennedy has been notified and the horse has been subsequently stood down and we will have the ascertain when we can hold that hearing," Mr Sanders said.

"There are numerous rules available to Harness Racing NSW in relation to this case and we haven't even spoken to Mr Kennedy about how it was found in it (the horse).

"There are a number of rules, and one is that is that it's obviously it's an offence for a trainer to even present this horse with a proven substance, irrespective how of it got there.

"But there's obviously rules against the deliberant administration of an illegal substance, whether it was accidental or deliberate is yet to be established."

The industry has ben rocked in recent months when two stewards resigned amid allegations some officials were not ordering swabs from particular horses in certain races.

Asked whether Kennedy would be dealt a harsher penalty if found guilty given the current climate of the sport, Sanders said other issues plaguing the industry would not affect the Riverina trainer's case specifically.

"We have not even looked at penalties, he has not even been convicted of an offence," Sanders said.

"But penalties vary depending on the circumstances, everybody's individual circumstances have to be taken into account and there would be no loading because of the other matter.

"In essence, Harness Racing NSW recently has taken a very strong stance with prohibited substances, but we still have to take things on a case-by-case basis."

Sanders could not confirm or deny whether Kennedy had clean record before this positive swab, but did say no previous offences would help his defence.

If Littlechrissyadios is found to be have been deliberately given the ibuprofen, Kennedy will be stripped of his 2011 Griffith Cup title.