The Referrals Committee, Peter M. Allen (in the chair), P.J.A. O’Connor and N.B. Wachman met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on Wednesday, 29th October 2014 to consider the referral of Denis Gerard Hogan (Trainer) by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club, as result of the withdrawal of Burren View Lady from the Brandon Hotel Handicap at Listowel on 16th September 2014. On that day Ms. Joan Taylor, Turf Club Veterinary Officer was unable to positively identify the horse from the markings contained in the passport.

The Committee considered a written explanation from Denis Gerard Hogan who was represented at the hearing by his Authorised Representative, Anne Grace. They also considered a report from Weatherbys Ireland which confirmed that the horse presented at Listowel was not Burren View Lady but was in fact Meadow Cross.

In his explanation, Mr Hogan outlined the sequence of events which led to Meadow Cross being brought to Listowel instead of Burren View Lady. He said that on the morning of the Listowel meeting, both horses went for a steady canter and following exercise both horses spent about an hour in a paddock. They were taken back to the stables by a new employee who inadvertently put the horses into the wrong stables. Both fillies are similar in build and colour and the wrong filly was taken by mistake to Listowel. Mr Hogan concluded by stating that he has now introduced new procedures which will ensure that a similar mix up does not occur in the future.

Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee found that Denis Gerard Hogan was in breach of Rule 194(vii)(f) and in technical breach of Regulation 8A1. He was fined €200. In arriving at the level of the fine the Committee accepted that what occurred was a genuine mistake. They also noted the new procedures that have now been put in place and which will reduce the likelihood of a re-occurrence of something similar in the future.

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