The Referrals Committee, Mr. N.B. Wachman (in the chair), Dr. Tom McDonogh and Mr. John Murphy convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Thursday, 15th June 2023 to consider the referral of Mr. J.C. Canavan (Rider) by a Senior Racing Official.
The IHRB were alerted to the fact that Mr. Canavan rode Red Coral House at the United Hunt (F) Ballindenisk Point-to-Point on Sunday 14th May 2023 having been added to the medical alert sheet with effect from 25th April 2023 and the required clearance from an IHRB Medical Officer had not been sought. Subsequently, at the Ormond Hunt (F) Ballingarry Point-to-Point on Sunday 20th May 2023, Mr. Canavan was prepared to ride at that fixture and informed the IHRB Chief Medical Officer that he had been cleared to ride at Ballindenisk the previous week. Mr. Canavan’s medical alert status was that he remained on medical alert and this was confirmed by the IHRB Senior Medical Officer and he was stood down from riding on 20th May. A Senior Racing Official commenced an investigation into the matter, which was subsequently referred to the Referrals Committee for hearing.
At the Referral Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. Canavan. The Referrals Committee also considered a report from Dr. Jennifer Pugh, IHRB Senior Medical Officer.
In his evidence, Mr. Canavan stated that on Friday 12th May 2023 he was asked to ride at Ballindenisk on Sunday 14th May. He rode out on Saturday morning 13th May and as he felt fine he assumed he could be cleared to ride on the morning of the fixture at Ballindenisk. Mr. Canavan further stated that he was cleared to ride at Ballindenisk on the 14th May; however, he could not confirm the identity of the Medical Officer who had given him clearance to ride.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee found Mr. J.C. Canavan in breach of Regulation 23(b)(xiii) of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Regulations for Point to Point Steeplechases, in that he had ridden in a Point-to-Point race at Ballindenisk on 14th May 2023 having been declared unfit to ride by the Medical Officer, and Rule 272 (ii) in that he had provided misleading information to an official at Ballingarry Point to Point on 20th May 2023. Having considered his record in this regard, the Referrals Committee suspended Mr. Canavan for four Point-to-Point racedays and imposed a fine of €500.
The case was presented by Mr. Michael Daly, IHRB Regulatory Legal Advisor.
Suspension dates to be confirmed on finalisation of Autumn Point to Point Fixtures List.