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How to appeal or move a suspension

Appealing a decision of the Race Day Stewards: 

Under Rule 256 a decision of the Stewards on race day may be appealed by an Owner, Trainer or Jockey of any horse running in the race or any person who has been subject of a decision.  


Appeals must be made within 48 hours of the decision to the IHRB by submitting the following:  

  • A notice of appeal setting out the specific reasons for the appeal; and  
  • Deposit of the nominated fee.  
  • Notice of Appeal should be addressed to the IHRB and emailed to [email protected].  
  • This appeal will be a full re-hearing of the matter and the decision of the Appeals Body will be final.  
  • The Appeals Body can confirm the original decision, vary the decision including the sanction or reverse it. Any variation of the sanction may include an increase of a penalty but only within the limits imposed under Rule 14.  
  • If the 48 hours expires on a weekend day or Bank Holiday, the deadline will extend to the first business day the office is open for business.
      

Appealing a decision of the Referrals Committee or Licensing Committee  


The subject of the decision or any affected person can appeal the decision of the Referrals Committee or Licensing Committee  

Appeals must be received within seven days of the decision being appealed and must have the following:  

  • A notice of appeal setting out the specific reasons for the appeal; and  
  • Deposit of the nominated fee.  
  • Notice of Appeal should be addressed to the IHRB and emailed to [email protected].  
  • Appeals Body can determine the appeal on the basis of a transcript of the original hearing as certified by the Chairperson.  
  • Appeals Body may require a hearing of an appeal if they deem it necessary or on application of any party.  
  • Person making the appeal can express a view as to which Division of the Appeals Body should hear the appeal under Rule 19C(6) however this is not determinative.
      

General Points to Note 

  • Powers of the Referrals Committee are set out under Rule 19A  
  • Powers of the Licensing Committee are set out under Rule 19B  
  • Powers of Appeals Body are set out under Rule 19C  
  • Any person appearing before the Licensing Committee, Referrals Committee or Appeals Body is entitled to have their case presented by a legal representative or by a designated official of a recognised Association under Rule 259.  
  • Please also refer to Rules 258, 267, 268 and 269 in respect of appeals 

  

How to change a suspension date for a Jockey 


Any Jockey that receives a suspension of two days or less now has the option to:  

  • Appeal the decision  
  • To elect to serve the suspension dates earlier than the fourteenth day after the decision subject to the following conditions:  
    • All requests are made to [email protected]   
    • The date(s) selected by the Jockey shall be date(s) on which the Jockey is qualified to ride and shall not be date(s) for which the Jockey is already suspended for a previous offence.  
    • The date(s) selected by the Jockey shall not commence earlier than the third day after the day on which the decision was made.  E.g. Suspended on Monday, earliest day the suspension can be served on is Thursday.  
    • If a Jockey wishes to serve their suspension on a day where declarations are taking place for the meeting involved, this request must be made before 10am. For example if you are electing to serve a suspension on Wednesday, the request must be in by 10am on Monday. 
    • Such notification shall be deemed received, upon receipt of the return email response from [email protected]   
    • For suspensions of two days, both days must be served on consecutive days for which the Jockey is otherwise qualified to ride.  
    • Upon confirmation of the Jockey's request from the IHRB no further amendment of dates will be allowed.  
    • If a Jockey requests a date where he/she is not eligible to ride, the original suspension date will stand. 

How to change a suspension date for a Qualified Rider 


For a suspension received at a Point to Point meeting the following shall apply: 

  • Beginning at the commencement of the 2023/2024 Season, any period of suspension for Qualified Riders, incurred at a Point to Point Meeting will automatically commence no earlier than the fourteenth day after the breach was committed, on a day(s) when Point to Point Meetings are scheduled to take place. 
  • If a rider receives a one day suspension, they may request to serve this suspension prior to the fourteenth day referred to above, on a day on which a Point to Point Meeting is scheduled to take place, beginning no earlier than the fifth day after the suspension was imposed, provided that: 
    • An application is made to [email protected] no later than 5pm on the Tuesday following the imposition of the one day suspension (such notification shall be deemed received, upon receipt of the return email response from [email protected]) 
    • The Rider is not appealing the one day suspension 
    • The date selected by the rider is not a date on which the Rider is already suspended for a previous offence 
    • Upon confirmation of the Rider's request from the IHRB no further amendment of dates will be allowed
  • Requests to serve a one day suspension will only be considered for Point to Point Meetings which remain scheduled to take place at the time noted above 
  • If the request to alter the suspension is accepted, the Rider will receive a confirmation email fro the IHRB denoting the date on which the Rider will now serve their suspension.