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The Referrals Committee, Mr Nick Wachman (Chairman), Mr Noel McCaffrey and Mr John Murphy convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 14 October, to consider an appeal to the Referrals Committee by an IHRB Senior Racing Official against the severity of the sanction imposed on Mr Ross Sugrue at Listowel on 27 September 2025.
On the day, following the running of the John & Terry Moriarty Memorial QR Handicap Chase, the Raceday Stewards found Mr Sugrue, rider of Dorans Law, in breach of Regulation 10.3(f), in that he had used his whip with excessive force. Having considered Mr Sugrue’s clean record in this regard, the Raceday Stewards suspended him for two racedays.
The grounds of referral lodged by the IHRB Senior Racing Official was that the sanction imposed was unduly lenient and the matter was referred under Rule 27(i).
At the referral hearing, evidence was heard from Dr Graham Adams, IHRB Deputy Head of Veterinary Operations, Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer and Mr Sugrue. The Referrals Committee also watched a recording of the race.
In his evidence, Dr Adams explained he was working in the capacity of veterinary officer on the day at Listowel. Dr Adams stated that the horse was initially inspected by his colleague, Dr Nicola O’Connor who alerted him to the marks on Dorans Law. Dr Adams confirmed that both himself and Dr O’Connor agreed the post-race marks were at the higher end of the scale.
In her evidence, Dr Hillyer stated that she first received a phone call from Dr Adams on the evening of the race and based on the evidence presented to her she felt that the sanction imposed was unduly lenient.
In his evidence, Mr Sugrue accepted that he made an error on the day however, he felt that the suspension imposed on him was harsh due to his clean record in this regard. Mr Sugrue accepted that his whip was not in the best condition, and he immediately purchased a new one after Listowel.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee confirmed the breach of Regulation 10.3(f) in that Mr Sugrue had used his whip with excessive force and they increased the sanction to 21 racedays..
The Referrals Hearing was presented by Ms Christine Traynor, BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.
Suspension Dates: 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 October, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 20, and 22 November.