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IHRB Issues Strong Anti-Doping Statement

Following Irish trainer Jim Bolger voicing his concerns on doping in Irish racing this past weekend, a strong statement against doping was issued by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday evening.

The statement read: “Following comments made recently, the IHRB can once again stress there is a zero-tolerance approach to doping in Irish racing and we operate to the highest level using LGC Laboratories in Newmarket, who are one of five International Federation Horseracing Authorities certified laboratories in the world, and the same laboratory used by the British Horseracing Authority.

“The IHRB will continue our extensive testing programme with 5,000 samples in 2021, once again including every race winner, additional raceday samples, out of competition samples and now also at unlicensed premises following on from the receipt of authorised officer status for 12 employees of the IHRB last month, which allows us to access and sample any thoroughbred at any time in Ireland.

“Each and every one of the samples taken are sent to LGC for analysis and any sample that returns an adverse analytical finding is acted upon, and details published, following our disciplinary process. LGC have been world leaders in anabolic steroid detection for over 60 years and most recently have led detection of these drugs in hair.”

Since May, the IHRB authorised officers have visited studs, consignors and pre-training yards besides licenced trainers, with about a quarter of the samples collected being out-of-competition tests.

Denis Egan, CEO of the IHRB said, “There is no room for complacency when it comes to equine anti-doping. The IHRB have shown that by significant increases in testing over the last number of years, and through collaboration with LGC, we have been able to take advantage of the science available.

“Our focus is on risk-based and intelligence led strategy which directs us to get the right sample from the right horse at the right time. The appointment of IHRB officials as authorised officers further strengthens that.”

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, added, “Ireland is a global leader in racing and breeding, and that position brings with it a responsibility to always be vigilant when it comes to anti-doping.

“HRI considers it crucial that continuous investment is made in ensuring that testing is constantly increasing in both numbers and agility, utilising the most modern techniques, and is of an internationally accredited standard.

“HRI has consistently increased its investment in anti-doping through the IHRB in recent years, and that will continue to be the case. This is not a closed industry so I would encourage anybody who believes that there are people operating outside of the rules, to contact the IHRB and make their concerns known.”

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Irish Regulatory Board Bans Jockey Four Months Over ‘Inappropriate’ Video With Dead Horse

After a Wednesday hearing, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board issued a four-month ban to jockey Rob James as a result of a video circulated on social media showing the rider sitting atop a dead horse, reports The Irish Sun.

The IHRB said: “The Referrals Committee found Mr. James in breach of Rule 272 (i) in that he acted in a manner which was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing. They imposed a 12 month suspension of his Qualified Riders licence and Handlers Permit with the last eight of this suspended.”

James issued a public apology via The Irish Field after the video first became public.

“I would just like of apologize for my actions which were wholly inappropriate and disrespectful to a lovely 5-year-old mare, who unfortunately suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while at exercise earlier that morning, April 30, 2016,” James said. “To try defending my stupidity at the time would add further insult and hurt to the many loyal people that have supported me during my career. I have caused embarrassment to my employers, my family and most importantly the sport I love.”

James Banned 12 Months; Eight Suspended

Irish amateur jockey Rob James, who was shown climbing aboard and sitting astride a dead horse in an eight-second video that circulated on social media last week, has received a 12-month suspension of his qualified riders license and handlers permit from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, which tweeted the result of its investigation late on Wednesday evening. The last eight months of the ban have been suspended by the IHRB, though terms of the suspension were not immediately disclosed. The statement from the IHRB reads as follows:

“The Referrals Committee, Ms. Justice Leonie Reynolds, Mr. Nick Wachman and Mr. Sean Barry convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) on Wednesday, 10th, March 2021 to consider the referral of Mr. Robert James (Rider/Handler) following an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board investigation into a video circulating on social media which first came to the attention of the IHRB on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021.

“Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee found Mr. James in breach of Rule 272(i) in that he acted in a manner which was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing. They imposed a 12-month suspension of his Qualified Riders licence and Handlers Permit with the last eight months suspended.

“The Committee also notes that Mr. James has stated to the Committee that he will not attend a Racemeeting or a Point-to-Point for the four-month period of his suspension.

“The detailed decision read out by Ms. Justice Leonie Reynolds will be published by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Thursday.”

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Gordon Elliott Banned For Twelve Months, Six Suspended

Irish National Hunt trainer Gordon Elliott has said that he is “paying a very heavy price” but that he has no complaints after being handed a 12-month suspension by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), with the last six months of the ban suspended. While it has been announced that the latter second half of the ban has been suspended, it has yet to be announced for how long that suspension would apply and what level of offence would cause it to be triggered. Elliott has not been fined but was ordered to pay €15,000 towards the IHRB's costs.

The referrals committee of the IHRB heard evidence on Friday relating to the social media release last weekend of a disturbing photograph showing Elliott sitting astride a dead horse on his gallops in Co Meath. The horse was later identified as the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Morgan (Ire), who is believed to have suffered a heart attack during routine morning exercise in 2019.

After being handed his penalty, Elliott released a statement on his Twitter account on Friday evening. He said, “I accept my situation and my sanction and am satisfied with my engagement with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. It is not an easy job to sit on the panel but I was dealt with fairly.”

Elliott added, “I am in this situation by my own action and I am not going to dodge away from this. With my position in the sport I have great privileges and great responsibility. I did not live up to that responsibility.

“I am paying a very heavy price for my error but I have no complaints. It breaks my heart to see the hurt I have caused to my colleagues, family, friends and supporters. I have a long road ahead of me but I will serve my time and then build back better.”

The trainer has assured the IHRB that he will not attend a race meeting or a point-to-point fixture for six months. The authority has released details of the findings of the referral committee hearing.

Its concluding statement read, “We consider that a suspension of Mr Elliott's training licence is merited. In all of the circumstances of this case, to reflect the seriousness of the offence and the damage to the Irish racing industry, to deter other offences of this nature and having taken into account the mitigating factors we have heard, we consider the period should be 12 months, however the last six months of this will be suspended.”

Assessing the decision, Denis Egan, CEO of the IHRB said, “Where breaches of rules occur and where participants in racing act in a manner that brings the sport into disrepute, there are no winners, and in fact, the loss is to Irish racing with damage to the reputation of the sport. Having acted with thoroughness and having followed due process at all times, the IHRB team are satisfied that the case has been dealt with fairly and appropriately.”

He added: “Ireland and its racehorse trainers, riders, breeders and workers are held in high regard globally providing some of the very best horses and the very best racing talent.

“We recognise the heartfelt upset that this matter has caused to people inside and outside of racing, none more so than to the staff employed by Mr Elliott. We also see at first hand both on the racecourse and as part of our stable inspection programme that horses receive unrivalled care, attention, and affection. Indeed, as part of the investigation into this very case, an unannounced stable inspection of Mr Elliott's yard this week led to no concerns about the welfare of the horses in his care, as has been the case during any other inspection we carried out at his premises each year. In our opinion the incident covered in today's hearing is not reflective of Irish racing.”

Elliott's conduct was considered under Rules 272 and 273 (xiii) of the Rules of Racing and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Rules. The former deals with licensed individuals acting “in a manner which is prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct or good reputation of horseracing” and the latter with any act “likely to be prejudicial to the interests of the IHRB or which is likely to cause serious damage to the interests of horseracing in Ireland.”

There has been widespread condemnation throughout the racing world and beyond of the image—in which Elliott appears to be giving the 'victory' sign while sitting on the stricken horse—following its emergence on Saturday. The following evening the three-time Grand National-winning trainer released a statement to confirm the authenticity of the photograph and stated that he was cooperating fully with the IHRB investigation.

Following this admission, Michael and Eddie O'Leary of Gigginstown House Stud, the biggest owner at Elliott's Cullentra House stable, pledged their support of the trainer. Cheveley Park Stud removed eight horses from the yard on Tuesday, including star novice chaser Envoi Allen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}), who has now joined Henry de Bromhead's stable. The eight horses were split between de Bromhead and champion trainer Willie Mullins.

The trainer this week lost his yard sponsor, eComm Merchant Solutions, the company owned by Noel and Valerie Moran, who have a number of horses in training with Elliott, including G1 Triumph Hurdle joint-favourite Zanahiyr (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Betfair also announced that it would be discontinuing its association with Elliott, who was an ambassador for the betting exchange firm.

Elliott has previously twice been the leading trainer at Britain's biggest jumps meeting, the Cheltenham Festival, which is set to start on Tuesday, March 16.

A statement from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on Friday read, “We welcome the fact that the Irish authorities have acted swiftly. The suspension will be reciprocated here in Great Britain. The existing restriction on Mr Elliott having runners in Great Britain will stay in place until the suspension takes effect on 9 March.

“The IHRB Referrals Committee pointed to the fact that the photo showed appalling bad taste and demonstrates a complete absence of respect for the horse. We endorse these comments, and the view that respect is an integral and essential part of the duty of those in charge of animals.”

It continued, “Today's decision confirms that horses will not be able to run at the Cheltenham Festival or Grand National Festival in the name of Gordon Elliott. However, if horses are transferred directly to other licensed trainers prior to 9 March – when the suspension is due to commence – they will be able to run.”

With the National Hunt season for 2020/21 set to conclude at the end of April, Elliott is the leading trainer by number of winners—his tally of 155, including two at Fairyhouse on Friday, puts him 17 clear of Mullins, who is ahead on prize-money.

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