The Referrals Committee, Mr. Peter N. Reynolds (in the chair), Mr. Peter M. Allen and Mr. Anthony Byrne convened via Zoom on Wednesday, 8th December 2021 to consider the referral of Conor Brassil (Rider) following the fixture at Cork on Sunday 17th December 2021.
Following the fixture at Cork it was established that Mr. Brassil had ridden All The Chimneys in the Fermoy Handicap Hurdle without obtaining the required medical clearance from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Jennifer Pugh, or any other authorised IHRB Medical Officer to ride at this fixture.
At the Referral Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. Brassil and the committee considered correspondence from Dr. Pugh.
In his evidence, Mr. Brassil outlined how he had been out injured for approximately two and a half months with two cracked vertebrae. He stated that he had visited orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Paddy Kenny who gave him a return date of 8th October. Mr. Brassil accepted that Dr. Pugh had attempted to contact him on numerous occasions and as a result of not speaking to her or any other authorised IHRB Medical Officer, he acknowledged that he had not been cleared to ride prior to this fixture.
Having considered the evidence, the panel were satisfied that Mr. Brassil was in breach of Rule 125(x) and having considered his record in this regard they suspended him for one raceday, ordered that he forfeit his riding fee and fined him €250. They also reminded him of his responsibilities to engage with Dr. Pugh when required.
The case was presented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor