Share to
The Referrals Committee, Mr Martin P O’Donnell (Chairman), Mr Raymond J McSharry and Mr Jack Rearden convened at the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 1 July and Thursday, 11 September 2025 to consider the referral of Jessica Harrington (Trainer) and Simon Torrens (Rider) following the Spring Two Day National Hunt Meeting Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan on Friday, 25 April 2025.
On the day, the Raceday Stewards enquired into the running and riding of Powerful, trained by Mrs Harrington and ridden by Mr Torrens, placed second, and requested an examination by the IHRB Veterinary Officer. The Veterinary Officer reported a small wound on the outside of Powerful’s right fore and noted a righthand side cardiac murmur.
Following receipt of a Veterinary Report on 12 May 2025 which confirmed the cardiac murmur as physiologically normal, the matter was referred to the Referrals Committee for consideration by an IHRB Senior Racing Official.
The Referrals Committee convened on 1 July 2025 and following a submission from Mr David Geoghegan BL on behalf of Mrs Harrington regarding jurisdiction and the reliance on a subsection of Rule 27 cited in the notice issued to the Respondent, the matter was adjourned to allow all parties to provide written submissions. Following a review of the written submissions, the Referrals Committee were satisfied that the hearing could proceed, and the Referrals Committee reconvened on 11 September 2025.
At the hearing, evidence was heard from Mrs Harrington, Mr Torrens, Dr Graham Adams, IHRB Deputy Head of Veterinary Operations and Dr Pia Kirsten Randleff-Rasmussen, Veterinary Surgeon. The Referrals Committee also watched a recording of the race.
In his evidence, Dr Adams explained that the IHRB issued a request to Mrs Harrington for a further cardiac evaluation of Powerful as part of the IHRB’s Suitability To Race program. The veterinary certificate noted a murmur post exercise that was evaluated as a normal physiologic event and would not preclude this horse from future racing. Dr Adams stated that from the Veterinary Officer report on the day of the race and the veterinary certificate supplied by Mrs Harrington that in his opinion the horse on the day of the race was not affected by the post-race murmur.
In her evidence, Dr Randleff-Rasmussen stated that she performed an examination on the horse on 7 May and found him to be clinically normal. A murmur was identified post exercise on the right-hand side which was a result of turbulent blood flow. In her opinion Dr Randleff-Rasmussen stated this was not unusual for a large horse with a large heart and would not increase danger to himself or a rider during training and racing and that it would not impact performance.
In his evidence, Mr Torrens outlined that he spoke to Mrs Harrington on his way to the racecourse and received instructions to jump off, get his mount settled, get him to jump and do his best from there; in his opinion this is what happened. Mr Torrens explained that Kilbeggan is a unique track in that there is essentially no straight, and he was brought off his racing line and forced further left on the run in by Park That, ridden by Jody McGarvey, who was on his inside. Mr Torrens stated that he felt Park That was running markedly left and was intimidating his horse. Mr Torrens explained to the Referrals Committee that he had made every effort on his horse and had ridden out to the line at his strongest.
In her evidence, Mrs Harrington stated that her instructions to Mr Torrens were to try and get his mount to settle, get him jumping and to try and get him into a good rhythm as he’s a big horse and can be awkward at times. Mrs Harrington added that she advised Mr Torrens to keep it simple. Mrs Harrington confirmed she was happy with the ride given to Powerful by Mr Torrens and confirmed that she felt the horse was a young horse who was still maturing and strengthening up.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee were satisfied that no further action was warranted.
The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity and Mr Andrew Ring, IHRB Stipendiary Steward. Mrs Jessica Harrington was represented by Mr David Geoghegan BL instructed by Mr Kevin Power, Maurice Power Solicitors. Mr Simon Torrens was represented by Andrew Coonan, Solicitor, of Coonan Cawley Solicitors.