The Appeals Body, Mr. Laurence McFerran (Chair), Mr. John Murphy and Mr. Victor Connolly convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 19th June 2023 to consider the appeal of Andrew Slattery (Rider) following the decision of the Raceday Stewards at Down Royal on Wednesday, 23rd June 2023.
Following the running of His Majesty’s Plate, the Raceday Stewards found Mr. Slattery, rider of Wordsworth, in breach of Regulation 10.3(f) in that he had used his whip with excessive force and having considered his record in this regard they suspended him for two racedays.
The grounds of appeal lodged by Mr. Slattery was that the Stewards on the day erred in their decision.
At the Appeal Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. Slattery. The Appeals Body also watched a recording of the race and considered photographic evidence submitted by the IHRB Veterinary Officer on the day.
In his evidence, Mr. Slattery stated that he was appalled to learn that his mount was marked post-race and that he has never been found in breach of the whip rules as regards excessive force. Mr. Slattery confirmed that he had used his whip in his right hand in the closing stages of this race, and that the marks on his mount’s rear showed up as spots which in his opinion was unusual as he would expect the marks to be consistent with a whip action, and furthermore the location of the marks were not consistent with the area where he had used his whip. Mr. Slattery further stated that there were also marks on his mount’s girth post-race, possibly resulting from rubbing against girth straps and a pad, and if his mount had been marked so easily in this area, there may have been some reaction on the rear area to the whip, but again the marks on the rear did not, in his opinion, look like whip marks.
Having considered the evidence, the Appeals Body allowed the appeal.
Mr. Slattery represented himself in the appeal hearing. The IHRB was represented by Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor.