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The Appeals Body, Mr Michael Hickey (Chairman), Mr Noel McCaffrey and Mr Marcus Magnier convened at the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 29 September 2026 to consider the appeal of Sam Coen (Rider) against the decision of the Raceday Stewards at Listowel on 22 September 2026.
On the day, prior to the running of the Rose Hotel Handicap, the Raceday Stewards found Mr Coen, rider of Cisterna, in breach of Regulation 10(b), in that he failed to wear a body protector with a harness when weighing out, and having considered his record in this regard (first offence), they suspended him for seven racedays.
The grounds of appeal lodged by Mr Coen were against the severity of the sanction imposed.
At the appeal hearing evidence was heard from Mr Coen.
In his evidence, Mr Coen accepted he was in breach of Regulation 10(b). Mr Coen explained that he was late arriving to the racecourse and he was rushing when he went to weigh out ahead of his first race of the day. Mr Coen stated that he had used his racing back protector when riding out that morning and had failed to reattach his tail strap prior to presenting to weighout which was a genuine error.
Having considered the evidence, the Appeals Body allowed the appeal against the severity of the sanction imposed and reduced Mr Coen’s suspension to five days.
The appeal was presented by Mr Patrick Kennedy, Patrick J O’Meara Solicitors on behalf of Mr Coen. The IHRB was represented by Ms Hannah Smullen, BL, instructed by Ms Christine Traynor, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.
Suspension Dates: 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 October