J.R. Barry Appeal
Gowran Park – 19th March 2011

The Appeals Body (Division One), Pat Reidy (in the Chair), Neville O’Byrne and Sean Barry met in the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on 7th April 2011, to consider the appeal of J.R. Barry, rider, against the decision of the Stewards at Gowran Park on 19th March 2011, when following the running of the Bagnelstown Beginners Steeplechase, he was suspended for 7 race days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee for making insufficient effort on Georgie GB).  The grounds of the appeal lodged were that his horse finished in the best possible position that he was capable of on the day in question.

Evidence was heard from M.O. Cullinane (trainer of Georgie (GB)) and J.R. Barry. 

In his evidence, M.O. Cullinane (who did not appeal the fine imposed on him or the suspension imposed on the horse arising out of the same incident) said that he was happy with the horse’s performance on the day.  He told the Committee that his horses had not been running well and had been sick.  He felt the horse got tired and his main concern watching the race was that the horse would fall at one of the fences in the straight.  He said he was very pleased that the horse got through the race in one piece.

J.R. Barry told the Committee that he accepted he was not vigorous on the horse in the latter stages of the race but felt if he was the horse wouldn’t have finished any closer.  He confirmed that the horse got very tired from the third last.  He said that he was convinced that the horse had obtained his best possible placing.

Having considered the evidence, the Appeal Body allowed the appeal.

The case was presented by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club.  J.R. Barry was represented by Andrew Coonan, Coonan Cawley Solicitors, Naas, Co. Kildare.