John Joseph Murphy / Convincing - Punchestown 13th January 2007

The Referrals Committee, Dr. Gordon A. Holmes (in the Chair), Mr. Edward Flannery and Mrs. J.O. Onions met at the Stand House Hotel, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on 23rd May to consider a referral from Denis Egan, Keeper of the Matchbook following the running of the Panda Juvenile Hurdle at Punchestown on 13th January 2007.  The referral related to post race comments made by John Joseph Murphy to the Press following the Punchestown race regarding Convincing’s performance at Leopardstown on 26th December 2006 which had not been reported to the Office of the Governing Bodies in accordance with the Instruction on Running on Page 227 of the 2007 Rule Book.

Written evidence was considered from Mr. Murphy who admitted a breach of the Instruction.

Having considered the evidence the Committee imposed a penalty of €750.  In imposing the penalty the Committee noted that the Instruction breached was in place to ensure that information affecting a horses performance was made available to the betting public on a timely basis and were it not for the way that Mr. Murphy met the case the fine imposed would be substantially higher.

The case was presented by Denis Egan, Keeper of the Matchbook.