The Referrals Committee Philip Caffrey (in the chair), Hugh M. Ferguson and Sean Barry met at the Turf Club, Curragh, Co. Kildare on Monday, 17th December 2012, to consider a referral from Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club, concerning the identification of “Paddy Wicklow” trained by P.J. Rothwell, which was due to run at Gowran Park on 24th November 2012 in the Follow Gowran Park on Facebook Novice Hurdle.  The horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards as the veterinary surgeon on duty, Ms. Joan Taylor, was unable to positively indentify the animal from the passport documentation presented.

Evidence was heard from P.J. Rothwell and Patrick Dowling, trainer and owner respectively of Paddy Wicklow.

In his evidence P.J. Rothwell accepted he was in breach of Rule 90.  He said that the horse was sent to him by his owner Patrick Dowling with a passport for another horse owned by Mr. Dowling which had similar markings.  Mr. Rothwell accepted that, while he checked the markings, he did not read the microchip number.  He only realized that he had the wrong passport when the horse could not be positively identified at Gowran Park.

In his evidence, Patrick Dowling confirmed the evidence given by P.J. Rothwell.  Mr. Dowling said that he had two horses with similar markings and that he sent the wrong passport to P.J. Rothwell.  He believed the horse he sent to P.J. Rothwell was by Statue of Liberty when in actual fact it was by Great Exhibition (USA).  He went on to say that the passport had now been amended to reflect this horse’s correct identity.

Having considered the evidence, the Committee fined P.J. Rothwell €400 and ordered that he pay a contribution of €200 towards Turf Club costs.

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