The Referrals Committee, Mr. Peter M. Allen (in the chair), Mr. Nicholas Wachman, and Mr. Noel McCaffrey convened via Zoom on Wednesday, 21st June 2022, to consider the referral of J.P. Broderick (Trainer) in relation to the identification of Grove Island which was due to run on 13th May 2022 at Kilbeggan.
On the day, the horse presented for identification prior to the Irish Farmers Journal Maiden Hurdle was not Grove Island and was identified on the microchip reader as Plinth. The Stewards, pursuant to the provisions of Rule 90(iv), ordered the withdrawal of Grove Island and referred the matter to a Senior Racing Official.
At the Referral Hearing, the committee considered a written submission from Mr. Broderick.
In his submission, Mr. Broderick explained that the horse was delivered to his yard from Martinstown Stud on behalf of the owner and was accompanied with a passport for Grove Island. Mr. Broderick accepted that he failed to examine the passport as he normally would when a new horse arrives. He further added that he was in the process of obtaining a new microchip reader and apologised for the error.
Having considered the evidence, the Committee were satisfied that Mr. Broderick was in breach of Rule 90(vi) in that the trainer presented a horse to race where the horse in question is not the horse identified. Having considered Mr. Broderick’s record in this regard, they imposed a fine of €500.
The case was presented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor