Share to
The Referrals Committee, Ms Meta Osborne (Chairperson), Mr Anthony Byrne and Mr Michael Hickey convened in the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, to consider whether Mr Thomas Byrne (Handler) was in breach of any rules of racing as a result of a report received from LGC Laboratories, Newmarket, England.
The report received on 11 March 2025, confirmed that the blood sample taken from Nevershedatear following her win in the Duninga Gallops Maiden Race for Four Year Old Mares on 2 March 2025 was confirmed by LGC Laboratories to contain phenylbutazone.
At the hearing, evidence was heard from Mr Byrne, Dr Lesley Ferguson, IHRB Deputy Head of Veterinary Policy and Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer.
In her evidence, Dr Ferguson provided details of the IHRB investigation which included an unannounced inspection of Mr Byrne’s premises on 14 March 2025, and she confirmed that Mr Byrne had cooperated fully with the investigation. Dr Ferguson noted that while there was a Medicines Register on the premises it was incomplete and there were no entries in relation to the horse Nevershedatear. Dr Ferguson further noted that while there were no prescriptions available, there was a set of discharge instructions for another horse in the yard who had undergone a wind operation and had been prescribed penicillin and phenylbutazone. Dr Ferguson outlined how Mr Byrne explained that there may have been some confusion regarding the administration of pre-mixed feed that he had prepared in advance of being absent from the yard for two days prior to the race and Nevershedatear possibly received the feed containing phenylbutazone which was not intended for her. Dr Ferguson also described how the unlocked medicines cabinet contained some prescription drugs and unlabelled syringes. Dr Ferguson explained the importance of veterinary oversight of medication, how legislation requires prescriptions for these medications, and they should be labelled and stored in a locked cabinet.
In her evidence, Dr Hillyer explained that phenylbutazone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine. Dr Hillyer also explained that Oxyphenbutazone is a metabolite of phenylbutazone and its presence is evidence that phenylbutazone has been metabolised in the horse and it is also itself an active drug. Dr Hillyer advised the detection time for phenylbutazone is eight days. Dr Hillyer further stated that the result of the blood sample taken from Nevershedatear is consistent with the dose prescribed to the horse recovering from a wind operation.
In his evidence Mr Byrne accepted he was in breach of a number of Rules. Mr Byrne explained that he did not have a system in place at that time but he has learned from the experience and made significant improvements to his premises and confirmed he has systems and controls in place regarding his medicines register and medicines.
Having considered the evidence, Ms Meta Osborne read out the following decision on behalf of the Referrals Committee.
“The panel has carefully considered both the evidence and the submissions and the applicable rules and regulations and find Mr Byrne in breach of the four rules as set out in the charge letter, Rule 96(i) which is a strict liability Rule, Rule 148 (i), Rule 148 (iii) and Rule 148 (iv), (v) and (ix) which are taken together.
The breaches that were found not only impact the integrity of racing as it is run but they also have implications regarding other horses within the yard. We have considered the laxity of your control around medicines at that time. There is a whole suite of things that trainers all have to comply with around medicines including labelling, prescriptions and recording. The Committee take a dim view of what was in place at the time. We also recognise that Mr Byrne has made significant strides to improve the situation and we commend him for that. However, we do have to impose sanctions. Rule 96(i) is a strict liability, and Mr Byrne has accepted that, which involves forfeiture of the race and the prizemoney, and an alteration of the result and we are fining €1,500 in that regard.
In respect of Rule 148(i), the Committee held that this was a central concern, the lack of controls around medication and feeding and notwithstanding that Mr Byrne has made improvements; on the day, at the time of inspection there were severe laxities in the system and on that breach the Committee impose a fine of €1,000.
In the other matters the Committee will impose a penalty of €250 in respect of Rule 148(iii) which is compliance with prohibited substances and administrative medicines we are fining Mr Byrne €250 and €500 in respect of Rule 148(iv), (v) and (ix) which we are taking together”.
The amended result of the Duninga Gallops Maiden Race for Four-Year-Old Mares now reads:
First: Might Be The One
The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.