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The Referrals Committee, Mr Justice Frank Clarke (Chair), Mr Noel McCaffrey and Mr Michael Sheahan convened in the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 21 April 2026 to consider whether Michael J McDonagh (Trainer) was in breach of the Rules of Racing as a result of a report received from LGC Laboratories, Fordham, Uk.
The report received on 9 July 2024 confirmed that the urine sample taken from Chainofconsequence following the Tennents NI Handicap Chase at Downpatrick on 15 June 2024 contained cobalt above the International Threshold of 100 ng/mL.
The option of a ‘B’ sample analysis was requested by Mr McDonagh and the presence of cobalt was confirmed by LGC Laboratories on 17 July 2024.
Evidence was heard from Mr McDonagh, Dr Graham Adams, IHRB Deputy Head of Veterinary Operations and Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer.
In his evidence, Dr Adams provided details of the IHRB investigation which included two unannounced inspections of Mr McDonagh’s premises on 1 and 17 July 2024. Dr Adams confirmed that neither Mr McDonagh nor his staff could provide any explanation for the finding but had cooperated fully with the investigation. Dr Adams explained that Mr McDonagh had wondered if a clay product used to poultice legs post gallop could have been responsible for the adverse analytical finding. Furthermore, Dr Adams outlined that testing of horses and a number of materials including syringes for injection and samples of the clay were sent for analysis, LGC reported that that the clay did contain cobalt, however, the concentration was so low that it was not a possible source of the adverse analytical finding. Dr Adams also confirmed that blood samples taken on 1 July from three other horses, two of which ran on 2 July, evidenced the presence of cobalt but below the threshold allowed on a Raceday. Lastly, Dr Adams explained to the Committee that reconciliation of passports against medicine records for horses in Mr McDonagh’s care had identified discrepancies in that a number of them should have been certified as excluded from the food chain.
In her evidence, Dr Hillyer explained that cobalt is an essential nutrient needed to metabolise Vitamin B12 and is naturally present in a horse’s diet however it is regulated when present above a population threshold because high doses can lead to performance enhancement and adverse effects on horse welfare. Dr Hillyer stated that the threshold concentration for cobalt on Raceday is 100ng/ml whereas this sample was confirmed at a concentration of 134ng/ml. Dr Hillyer explained that the threshold had been developed internationally on a scientific basis to differentiate normal expected values from those which arise following exposure to cobalt and/or vitamin B12. In this case, the post-race urine Sample taken from Chainofconsequence had been reported by LGC to contain the inorganic form, so arising from cobalt administration rather than from vitamin B12. Dr Hillyer said that the findings from the investigation taken as a whole indicated exposure to cobalt close to racing but that no satisfactory explanation had been provided.
In his evidence, Mr McDonagh accepted he was in breach of a number of Rules and that he respected the detailed work put into the investigation by Dr Adams and Dr Hillyer. Mr McDonagh explained that he has been training horses for 35 to 40 years for himself and that he had no previous breaches of rules in that time. Mr McDonagh said he was at a loss to explain the adverse analytical finding and he is still fearful with his runners at the moment that something similar may occur. Mr McDonagh stated that the only conclusion he could come up with was that the horse could have picked up extra particles in the clay he used as a poultice as the horses lick and eat that on occasion. Mr McDonagh accepted shortcomings in his administration relating to the Medicines Register and some of the passports, apologised for that oversight and confirmed that measures had been put in place to rectify those issues.
Having considered the evidence, the Mr Justice Frank Clarke read out the following decision on behalf of the Referrals Committee.
“The panel has carefully considered both the evidence and the submissions made on both sides. We feel that there is one key issue which is as to the seriousness of the circumstances leading to what is accepted as being an adverse analytical finding in respect of cobalt.
On the basis of the scientific evidence which the panel has heard, the panel do not think that it is likely that any environmental factors could have given rise to that level of cobalt as was determined in the analysis. In particular, the evidence was that a normal finding of cobalt would probably be in the order of 5-10ng/ml and the threshold is 100ng/ml, which is a lot higher than then the normal, but the finding in this case was 135/ng/ml.
Secondly, the panel took into account the fact that the findings of high levels were not universal across the other horses but rather they were at their highest level when horses were due to run. The panel is of the view that it would be likely that, if there were environmental factors influencing a level of cobalt, while it might not be identical in each case, there would be a broad similarity. For example, there was no suggestion that the feed that the various horses were being provided with was different from one horse to the next and therefore it does not seem likely to the panel that the scientific findings are consistent with environmental contamination of one sort or the other.
Similarly, the panel was not persuaded that the taking of supplements would have given rise to the precise type of findings that were made in this case.
It is impossible to tell precisely how this came about but the panel is of the view that this was a serious matter and in some way that cobalt must have been administered to these horses.
The panel is not necessarily expressing a view as to whether the Trainer concerned knew about this or could have known this but as a matter of probability it happened, and happened in respect of horses under his control and for which he was responsible. Therefore the panel is of the view that this should be treated as quite a serious breach of the principal rules being Rule 96(i) and Rule 148(i).
The panel is also of the view that the point made regarding Mr McDonagh’s very long record as a Trainer with no other adverse analytical findings against him is a significant mitigating factor to be taken into account and should be reflected in the sanction to be imposed. On the one hand, the panel is of the view that this is a very serious matter but also that there is that level of mitigation being the previous and very good record of Mr McDonagh.
In the circumstances, the panel will impose a penalty of €2,000 in respect of Rule 96(i) and €1,000 in respect of Rule 148(i), order that the horse be disqualified from the race in question, the stake be forfeited and the placings amended accordingly.
In the other matters, the panel will impose a penalty of €750 in respect of Rule 148(iii), in that Mr McDonagh failed to ensure that he and members of his staff within the Training Establishment were fully conversant with and complied with the rules relating to prohibited substances and failed to ensure compliance with the statutory requirements in respect of horses treated with medicines requiring to be signed out of the food chain.
In respect of Rule 148(iv), a penalty of €500 is imposed in that Mr McDonagh had failed to maintain the Medicines Register at his licenced premises and did not contain the required particulars for horses under his care and a combined fine of €500 in respect of Rule 148(v) and Rule 148(ix) in that entries relating to veterinary medicines were not made on the same day the animal remedies were administered.”
The amended result of the Tennents NI Handicap Chase 15 June 2024
First: Ocean Legacy
Second: Centurion Steel
Third: Tuff Days
Fourth: Mullaghmore Wave
Fifth: Wee Jerry
Sixth: Greenway Machine
The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity. Mr McDonagh was represented by Mr Patrick Kennedy, Patrick J O’Meara Solicitors, Thurles, Co Tipperary.