The Referrals Committee, Mr. Peter M. Allen (Chair), Mr. Jack Rearden and Mr. Peter N. Reynolds convened at Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Monday 28th August 2023 to consider the referral of Eoin Christopher McCarthy, Trainer, by a Senior Racing Official following the fixture at Cork on the 7th August 2023.
On the day, following the running of the Kanturk Handicap Hurdle, won by Rathnaleen Kal, trained by Mr. McCarthy, it was noted that in a television interview Mr. McCarthy appeared to provide an explanation for the poor performance of his mount on her previous start in the Follow Us On Instagram Mares Handicap Hurdle on 14th July 2023.
The matter was referred to the Referrals Committee for further consideration by a Senior Racing Official as Rathnaleen Kal had been reassessed by the Irish National Hunt Handicapper and dropped 2lbs following her run on 14th July 2023.
At the Referral Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. McCarthy. The panel also viewed a recording of the television interview in question where Mr. McCarthy stated: “we were initially very disappointed the last day but it turned out when we went home she was in season, so we had an excuse, up to that her form was very solid.”
In his evidence, Mr. McCarthy accepted that he made the comments in a television interview but said he had no proof that Rathnaleen Kal was in season following her last run but he did find her uncharacteristically quiet the morning after the race. Mr. McCarthy said it was possible she was in season but that he had just given this explanation in the interview as he had been asked beforehand why she ran so bad on her previous start. Mr. McCarthy added that Rathnaleen Kal lived in a pen rather than a stable but at the time of her run on 14th July she was moved to a stable for a few days due to works being carried out in the yard. Mr. McCarthy stated that he felt this was a more likely explanation for her poor performance.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee were satisfied that Mr. McCarthy was in breach of Rule 213(iii) in that he had declared quite clearly in an interview that Rathnaleen Kal was in season following her run at Cork on 14th July 2023 and thus he had failed to report as soon as possible anything which might have a bearing on the past or future running of his charge after it had left the Racecourse. Having considered Mr. McCarthy’s record in this regard, the consequences of the 2lbs drop in the ratings and the subsequent victory of Rathnaleen Kal, the Referrals Committee imposed a fine of €500 on Mr. McCarthy.
The case was presented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor.