The Referrals Committee, Mr. Anthony Byrne (Chair), Mr. Noel McCaffrey and Dr. Tom McDonogh convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 22nd August 2023 to consider the referral of T.E. Hyde (Trainer) by the Raceday Stewards at Listowel on Monday, 5th of June 2023.
Following the running of the Beasley Engineering Hunters Steeplechase, the Raceday Stewards received a complaint from the IHRB Veterinary Officer, Ms. Nicola O’Connor, that the horse All Hell Let Loose was attended to and given veterinary attention in the stable yard by a person unauthorised to do so on the day without the consultation of the IHRB Veterinary Officer’s on duty. This is an act of Veterinary Medicine that could only be carried out with the express permission of the IHRB Veterinary Officer. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards referred this matter to a Senior Racing Official for further investigation. The matter was subsequently referred to the Referrals Committee for hearing.
At the Referral Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. Tim Hyde, Authorised Representative of Mr. T.E. Hyde, who was present at Listowel. The Referrals Committee also watched Racecourse Stable Yard CCTV footage of the day in question.
In his evidence, Mr. Hyde explained that All Hell Let Loose is a family-owned horse which predominantly races in Point to Points to give his sons experience of riding in races. Mr. Hyde added that the run in Listowel was to be the last run of the season. He said that the horse ran well on the day but sustained a cut above his knee and that this was washed and stapled post-race in the Racecourse Stable Yard by Ms. Carolyn Hyde, a veterinary surgeon registered to practise in Ireland. Mr. Hyde added that antibiotics were also being prepared for administration to the horse but were not administered. Mr. Hyde admitted that they had acted in haste in treating the horse, due to concern regarding the injury, rather than bringing the injury to the attention of the IHRB or directly to the raceday veterinary teams, who are responsible for veterinary treatment in Racecourse Stable Yard on the day of a Race Meeting. Mr Hyde confirmed that Mr. T. E. Hyde, Trainer, accepted that he was in breach of Regulation 9.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee found Mr. T. E. Hyde in breach of Regulation 9 in that treatment had been administered to a horse under his care and control in the Racecourse Stable Yard on the day of a Race Meeting without the express permission of the IHRB Veterinary Officer. Having considered the nature of the breach and the presence of antibiotics in the Racecourse Stable Yard without permission, and noting that Mr. Hyde’s record was clear, the Referrals Committee imposed a fine of €1,500.
Mr. Hyde was represented by Mr. Kevin Power, Maurice Power Solicitors, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick. The IHRB was represented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor.