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The Referrals Committee, Mr Martin O’Donnell (Chair), Mr Anthony Byrne and Mr Noel McCaffrey convened at the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday 24 March 2026 to consider the referral of Elizabeth Gale (Rider) by an IHRB Senior Racing Official following the running of the Book Online at DundalkStadium.com Maiden in Dundalk on Friday 27 February 2026.
Having received notification on Monday 2 March from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) that Ms Gale did not hold a valid license on 27 February, an IHRB Senior Racing Official investigated the matter. As part of that investigation, it was established that Ms Gale had been licensed by the BHA and that the IHRB had established on 6 February that she held a licence as an Apprentice and Conditional jockey issued by the BHA. At each fixture in Ireland at which Ms Gale was engaged to ride at after 6 February, she signed an attestation form, reconfirming she held a license issued by the BHA and this was again the case at Dundalk on 27 February. Following the victory of Oxford Circus, ridden by Ms Gale, in the Book Online at DundalkStadium.com Maiden, the IHRB notified the BHA on 2 March 2026 of Ms Gale’s winner. In response to this notification, the BHA informed the IHRB Licensing Department that Ms Gale had been removed from her previous Trainer’s employment on 23 February 2026 and therefore her licence had been automatically relinquished with immediate effect on this date. Following this investigation, an IHRB Senior Racing Official referred the matter to the Referrals Committee for consideration.
At the referral hearing evidence was heard from Ms Gale and the Committee also considered correspondence from the IHRB Licensing Department and BHA.
In her evidence, Ms Gale explained that prior to moving to Ireland she reached an agreement with her previous employers in England, to remain in their employment as she was unsure if a move to Ireland would work out. Ms Gale stated that she received a verbal agreement from her previous employer that they would keep her as an employee until the end of February. Ms Gale confirmed that she had begun the process of getting licensed in Ireland and did not receive any correspondence to advise her that her previous employment had been terminated, therefore she signed the attestation at Dundalk in good faith as she believed when she rode in Dundalk on 27 February she held a valid license. Furthermore, Ms Gale accepted that a license obtained from the BHA is relinquished once employment with a Trainer ends, however on this occasion she stated that she had not received any notification of her employment being terminated earlier than she expected.
Having considered the evidence, the Committee were satisfied that Ms Gale did not hold a valid license on 27 February 2026. Accordingly, under the provisions of Rule 87 (ii) (h), the horse Oxford Circus was not qualified to start in the Book Online at DundalkStadium.com Maiden and was therefore disqualified. The Committee ordered the placings to be amended and that the stake be forfeited.
The amended result of the Book Online at DundalkStadium.com Maiden now reads:
First: Jampa Ling
Second: Call The Cavalry
Third: Aughlish
Fourth: Luminessa
Fifth: Green Testimony
Sixth: Auguste Gusteau
The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.