The issue of drugs within racing has taken a new twist with the sport's two ruling bodies, Horse Racing Ireland and the Turf Club, unable to agree on funding for improved testing facilities at the laboratory which examines horse samples taken in this country.
The Turf Club has taken the unprecedented step of resorting to an independent arbitrator to provide a binding decision on the question of proposed funding for an upgrade of equipment at the BHP laboratory in Limerick.
Racing’s regulatory body has written to HRI, the ruling organisation in charge of the sport’s finances, outlining why it is making the move after negotiations over most of this year failed to result in agreement.
The provision for an arbitrator exists under the Irish Horseracing Industry Act but this is the first time it is being used and it takes place in a context of continuing controversy over the use of banned medications, including anabolic steroids, within Irish racing.
An appeal by trainer Philip Fenton against the severity of a three-year disqualification over possession of anabolic steroids during a Department of Agriculture raid on his yard in January of 2012 is scheduled for two weeks' time.
Unauthorised medicines
Retired veterinary inspector
John Hughes
has been ‘warned off’ from racing for five years after pleading guilty to possession of unauthorised medicines, while his brother, trainer
Pat Hughes
, is appealing a conviction for possession of unauthorised medicines through the courts.
A new drug-testing regime by the Turf Club is planned by the Turf Club for 2015, including greater testing, both in and out of competition, and there has been a funding pledge made towards that by HRI. The HRI board meets later this month to finalise budget plans for next year.
However, relations that are already strained between the two bodies over the long-term governance structure for the sport look to be worsening after the Turf Club’s move over what it describes as two outstanding issues from racing’s 2014 budget.
One is in relation to a rental fee for provision of its integrity services at its Curragh HQ. But a source has said the major issue is over HRI’s failure to provide funding for the purchase of new equipment for the BHP lab.
Breached the rule
Jockey
Danny Mullins
has picked up a three-day suspension at the Turf Club’s referrals committee after being found to have breached the rule in relation to not reporting to the stewards information that may have affected a horse’s running.
Mullins received the ban for his ride on Bashful Beauty at Fairyhouse in October, after which the horse's trainer Norman Lee criticised the jockey in a running and riding enquiry.
Mullins argued that Lee “failed to ride his charge with determination and had failed to obtain the best possible placing” on Bashful Beauty, which finished seventh.
At that enquiry, Mullins told the stewards the horse felt dead in running. At the referrals, it was decided he should have reported this to the track stewards immediately after the race.
As well as his three day suspension, Mullins was ordered to pay €500 to the cost of the hearing.
