The Referrals Committee, Mr. Justice Raymond Groarke (in the chair), Mr. N.B. Wachman and Mr. Anthony Byrne, convened at the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on 8th November to consider an objection from the Keeper of the Match Book to the result of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Claiming Race and the Lengthen The Odds With Bet Victor Nursery Handicap at Dundalk on 3rd November 2021.
On the day, following the conclusion of the fixture, the Clerk of the Scales Report recorded that M.P. Sheehy (Rider) had weighed out at 119 lbs to ride Viv Vance, placed third, trained by James Nash, in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Claiming Race, when he should have weighed out at 121 lbs. M.P. Sheehy also weighed out at 130 lbs to ride Sangria, placed first, trained by Joseph O’ Brien, in the Lengthen The Odds With Bet Victor Nursery Handicap, when he should have weighed out at 132 lbs. Objections to the result of each race were made under the provisions of Rule 262 (v)( c), in that the weights at which the rider weighed out were less than the correct weights.
Evidence was heard from Ms. Jennifer Walsh (IHRB Clerk of the Scales) and from Mr. Sheehy.
Ms. Walsh explained that the standard operating procedure for weighing out a rider involved asking the rider to confirm what allowance he claimed. Ms. Walsh confirmed that for Race 1 and Race 2, Mr. Sheehy was asked to confirm he was eligible to claim 5lbs and the rider confirmed this. Ms. Walsh further stated that the standard operating procedure differs for weighing out riders for an apprentice race, which involves asking the rider to confirm the number of wins he has ridden, as the allowances for Apprentice races vary according to the conditions of the race. While weighing Mr. Sheehy out for the third race, the Story Of Dundalk Stadium Book Available Online Apprentice Maiden, she asked him how many winners he had ridden and he stated that the previous race had been his 66th winner, having ridden his 65th winner in Dundalk on the previous Friday, 29th October. At this point Ms. Walsh became aware that Mr. Sheehy had ridden with an incorrect claim in the previous two races and brought the matter to the attention of the Stewards, who in turn referred the matter to the Keeper of the Matchbook as the ‘Winner Alright’ had already been called for those opening two races.
In his evidence, Mr. Sheehy accepted that he had claimed an incorrect allowance in the opening two races at the fixture in question. Mr. Sheehy explained that having checked declarations on the HRI RAS website in respect of the meeting in Dundalk on 3rd November, the Declared Runners sheet had not amended his claim following his 65th win. Mr. Sheehy did confirm that he was aware of his obligations regarding the claiming of weight allowances.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee noted that the HRI RAS system is currently being updated to accommodate 48 hour declarations, which will ensure that riders’ weight allowances are updated in a timely manner. Notwithstanding, Mr. Sheehy ought to have been alert to the change in his weight allowance and should have made a clearer enquiry at scales to ensure that he was carrying the correct weight. The Referrals Committee were, therefore, satisfied that Mr. Sheehy was in breach of Rule 195(i), in that he did not claim the correct weight allowances and did not weigh out at the correct weight for the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Claiming Race and the Lengthen The Odds With Bet Victor Nursery Handicap. The Referrals Committee fined M.P. Sheehy €150 and ordered him to forfeit his riding fee in respect of carrying the incorrect weight when riding Viv Vance and fined him €150 and ordered him to forfeit his riding fee in respect of carrying the incorrect weight when riding Sangria.
Furthermore, the Referrals Committee disqualified Viv Vance from third place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Claiming Race in accordance with Rule 230 (iii), and amended the result to read as follows:
First: Rocky Dreams (GB)
Second: No Speed Limit (FR)
Third: Art of Unity (GB)
Fourth: Windham Belle
Fifth: Caesar’s Comet
The Referrals Committee also disqualified Sangria from first place in the Lengthen The Odds With Bet Victor Nursery Handicap), in accordance with Rule 230 (iii), and amended the result to read as follows:
First: El Valle
Second : Satin Snake (GB)
Third: Mary Pickersgill
Fourth: Pandemic Princess
Fifth: Celebrate in Style
The case was presented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor. Mr. Sheehy was accompanied by Mr. Brendan Powell, Authorised Representative for Joseph O’ Brien.