The Referrals Committee, P.J.A. O’Connor (in the Chair), Laurence McFerran and N.B. Wachman, met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on Thursday, 22nd October, 2015, to consider whether or not Adrian Paul Keatley (Trainer) was in breach of the Rules of Racing as a result of a random stable inspection carried out at his Training Establishment on 3rd September, 2015, by Turf Club officials, Michael O’Donoghue and Nicola O’Connor, MVB.

At the inspection the officials discovered a number of anomalies including:-

(i) Five horses returned in training were not present namely; Carraroe Flyer, Jingle Jangle (GB), Ni Dom, Outlaw Blues and Zeftan.

(ii) The Turf Club Medicines Register did not record the administration of medications.

(iii) The administration of Cobactan to Michael’s Missile was not recorded in the Medicines Register. The absence of a post-race report in respect of Michael’s Missile who ran at the Curragh on 20th August, 2015, and had burst a blood vessel.

(iv) The Stable Employee Bonus Scheme (SEBS) payment of €1,568.31 was not displayed.

(v) Former employee, Stephen Tackaberry, had not received his share of SEBS even though the Turf Club was informed on 28th August, 2015, that he had received payment. A balance of €118.31 appeared to be unaccounted for.

(vi) Two employees, namely Vivianne Wojtecki and Maciel Reis, had not been registered with the Turf Club.

(vii) Some horses were being trained from an indoor barn which was also used by another trainer in contravention of a condition upon which the licence was granted.

The matter was referred to the Referrals Committee by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club.

Evidence was heard from Michael O’ Donoghue, Nicola O’Connor, M.V.B., and Adrian Keatley. The Committee also considered the officials written report.

In his evidence Michael O’ Donoghue stated that the five horses listed above were not present at the inspection stage for various reasons, primarily through injury while others had returned to their owners. The Stable Employment Bonus Scheme payment was not on display and there appeared to be a discrepancy within the payments of certain amounts to certain individuals. The two employees named above were not officially registered within the requirements of Rule 149 at that time. The co-sharing arrangement between Mr. Keatley and the other trainer domiciled on site which was officially recorded with the Licensing Committee was referenced. Mr. O’ Donoghue also referred to the absence of a post-race report to the Turf Club in relation to Michael’s Missile who had burst a blood vessel while running at the Curragh on 20th August, 2015, a requirement under Rule 213 (iii)

In her evidence Nicola O’Connor reported there were two anomalies with regards to veterinary matters. The Medicines Register was incomplete. Horses were administered treatments within the previous twelve months but these were not recorded. A number of horses had been administered bute from December 2014 to August 2015 and again there was no record within the Medicines Register. She stated it was the trainer’s obligation to maintain such a record for up to one year. She also stated that Michael’s Missile was administered Cobacton and again there was no recorded detail of this treatment.

In cross examination Andrew Coonan noted that Mr. Keatley had maintained a list of prescriptions that were administered to various horses but noted these were not recorded within the Medicines Register.

In his evidence Adrian Keatley accepted that he should have returned the horses out of training when they vacated his training establishment. He accepted it was an oversight on his behalf and has subsequently returned the animals out of training. He explained he had since put in place an improved administration system. The two employees were awaiting a work permit at the time of the inspection and stated that both were now registered as stable employees. He also stated that the current Stable Employee Bonus Scheme (SEBS) payment would be on display and the two individuals had since received payment. In relation to the stabling arrangement he would endeavour to rectify this matter in the near future.

Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee complimented Mr. Keatley on the veracity of his evidence but adjudged he was in breach of the Rules of Racing on matters as referred to above.

In relation to Rule 148 (vi) they fined him €130 for each of the five offences (€650 in total).

For breaches of the following rules the Committee fined Mr. Keatley the following amounts:-

Rules 148 (iii) (a) (€130), 148 (iii) (b) (€130), 298 .5 (€130) 149 (i) (ii) (€130).

In relation to Rules 213 (iii) and 298 .7 they issued a severe caution.

In relation to Rule 147 (vi) this matter would be referred to the Licensing Committee.

The Committee, in accordance with Rule 267, ordered Mr. Keatley to contribute €250 towards costs.

The case was presented to the Committee by Paul Murtagh, Stipendiary Steward. Mr. Andrew Coonan of Coonan Cawley Solicitors, Naas represented Mr. Keatley.