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The Referrals Committee, Mr Peter Allen (Chair), Mr Victor Connolly and Mr Finbar Cahill convened at the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board to consider a referral from an IHRB Senior Racing Official in relation to the identification of Solviez Song, trained by Patrick Verling, who was due to run in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF INH Flat Race on 10 May in Cork.
On the day, the Raceday Stewards received a report from the IHRB Veterinary Officer that she was unable to positively identify Solviez Song as she could not find the microchip. In addition to the microchip identification issue, discrepancies were identified between the markings recorded in the horse’s passport and those of the horse presented, including that the mare was recorded in the passport as bay rather than grey. The Raceday Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Solviez Song pursuant to Rule 90(iv) and referred the matter to a Senior Racing Official.
At the Referral Hearing, the Committee considered the evidence and submissions from Mr Verling. Mr Verling accepted that he had not checked the mare’s microchip when she came into his care and explained that he had relied on assurances from the owner that her identification details were in order. He had subsequently become aware that the passport described the mare as bay but the passport had not been updated before she was presented to race at Cork.
The Committee was informed that Solviez Song had since been re-microchipped, her identification markings had been updated and she had been returned to the care of her owner.
Having considered the evidence and Mr Verling’s submissions, the Referrals Committee found Mr Verling in breach of Rules 90(iii) and 85(viii)(b) and imposed an overall fine of €500.
The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.