The Referrals Committee, Judge Tony Hunt (in the Chair), Mrs. J.O. Onions and Con O’Mahony met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on Thursday, 22nd August 2013 to consider the referral of Eoin Doyle, trainer, by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club following a random stable inspection carried out at his Training Establishment on 24th July 2013 by Turf Club Officials, Michael O’Donoghue and Ms. Nicola O’Connor M.R.C.V.S.  

During the visit the officials found that: (i) Eight horses returned in training as being under his care were not present and should have been returned out of training (ii) A medicines register was not available for inspection (iii) The yard at Owning Hill, Pilltown from which he was training had not been inspected and approved by the Licensing Committee  

Evidence was heard from Michael O’Donoghue, Ms Nicola O’Connor M.R.C.V.S. and Eoin Doyle.  

In his evidence Michael O’Donoghue confirmed that eight horses returned in training as being under the care of Eoin Doyle were not at his premises.  He outlined the various reasons why they were not present.  He also said that a medicines register was not available for inspection as it was with one of Mr Doyle’s employees.  Mr Doyle undertook to email the register to Ms. O’Connor, but to date had not done so.  

In relation to the training yard at Owning Hill, Mr. O’ Donoghue said that there are a number of training yards on the farm and that the original training yard which the Turf Club approved for use by Mr. Doyle, was now occupied by another trainer with Mr. Doyle being relocated to a different yard on the same farm.  He said that the new training yard had been inspected on 24th July 2013 and had now been registered.  

In her evidence Ms. Nicola O’Connor said that Eoin Doyle had fully co-operated with the inspection.  She said that there were two passports missing but that these passports were in relation to two horses which had run recently and were in the horse lorry.  

In his evidence Eoin Doyle outlined the reasons why the eight horses referred to by Michael O’Donoghue had not been returned out of training.  He said that five of the eight horses left his premises in the last three weeks and that this coincided with him being away on holidays.  As a result the relevant paperwork had not been processed.  He accepted that the other three horses had left his care prior to that and that they should have been returned out of training before he went on holidays.  

In relation to the change of training yard, Mr Doyle said that he was under the impression he did not have to re-register his new training yard as he was still based on the same farm.  

Regarding the medicines register, Mr Doyle handed in a copy of the up to date register at the hearing which Nicola O’Connor confirmed was maintained in the correct format.  

Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee found Eoin Doyle to be in breach of Rule 148(vi) in respect of the three horses which should have been returned out of training prior to him going on holidays.  They accepted his explanations for not returning the other five horses out of training.  He was fined €600 (€200 in respect of each horse) for the breach of Rule 148(vi) as it was his second offence.

The Committee found that he was also in breach of Rule 147(vi) in that he failed to have his new training yard at Owning Hill inspected and approved.  He was fined €130 in respect of this breach. In arriving at the level of the fine, the Committee said they did understand why Eoin Doyle could have thought that it was not necessary to inspect the new training yard as it is located on the same farm.  

The Committee also found that Eoin Doyle was in breach of Rule 148(iii) (b) in that he failed to make his medicines register available for inspection and was fined €500.  The Committee said that there was no excuse for this breach of rule.    

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