The Referrals Committee, Peter Reynolds (in the Chair), Paul Ronan and Mrs T.K. Cooper met at the Turf Club, Curragh, Co Kildare on Friday, 21st November 2014 to consider the referral of John P. Murtagh (trainer) by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club, as a result of the withdrawal of “Jolyne” from the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at the Curragh on 12th October 2014. On the day Terry Smith, Turf Club Veterinary Officer, was unable to positively identify the horse from the markings contained in the passport.

Evidence was head from John P. Murtagh, who accepted that he presented the wrong horse to run at the Curragh on 12th October 2014. He said that he originally received the horse from the U.K. When the horse arrived at his yard he checked the markings and as far as he was concerned he had the right horse as the markings in the passport corresponded closely with the horse. He did not check the horse’s microchip number and it was only when the horse was scanned at the Curragh on 12th October 2014 that it was pointed out to him that he had the wrong horse. He said that he believed the mix up occurred when the horse was shipped to him from the livery yard where two horses were interchanged unknown to him and to the trainer that had received the other horse. He concluded by saying that he has now purchased a microchip reader and he now routinely scans all horses to verify their identity.

Having considered the evidence, the Committee found John P. Murtagh in breach of Rule 194(vii)(f) and imposed a fine of €200.

The Committee ordered that the name “Jolyne” should now be registered to the 2012 Bay Filly by Makfi (GB) out of Crossmolina.

The case was presented by Conal Boyce, Solicitor, Naas, Co Kildare.