Department not targeting equine vets

Sir - I refer to an article titled “We need to chip horses out of the food chain” that appeared in the April 8th edition of The Irish Field.

The Department is particularly disappointed to note that in this article an unnamed practicing veterinarian is quoted, making non-specific, unchallenged and unsubstantiated serious allegations against the Department of seeking to prejudice a court case. The Department would have expected to at least have been given an opportunity to react to such allegations prior to publication. For the record, the Department refutes the allegation.

The source further criticises the legislation applicable to veterinary medicines and asserts that legislation is applied more leniently in other jurisdictions. Legislation is brought forward in a democratic process reflecting and balancing different societal perspectives.

Societal expectations are that citizens comply with legislation as it exists. The Department therefore also refutes the allegation that the Department is seeking to criminalise the veterinary profession.

On the matter of veterinary medicines, it is indeed recognised that the market for veterinary medicines for use in equines is subject to greater constraints than other species because of the relative market size. This is the very reason why special legislative provisions are made for equidae.

For instance, a significant number of ‘essential substances’ and other products, which are not licensed for use in other animals, are allowed to be used in equines, subject to certain conditions.

Further, the legislative framework provides a legal ‘cascade’ mechanism which allows veterinary practitioners use products not licensed for use in horses but licensed for use in other species, and indeed in humans, be used in clearly documented circumstances.

Furthermore the Department has made it clear to the industry and practicing veterinary practitioners that where a licensed medicine is not available to treat horses for a particular condition and where the ‘cascade’ mechanism does not offer a solution, that there are mechanisms where the Department, on application to it by a practitioner, may, subject to certain conditions, issue a licence to import a licensed product from elsewhere.

On the specific matter of the treatment of newborn foals raised, I would like to point out that the Department has provided guidance/clarification to veterinary practitioners as how to approach such situations. This guidance acknowledges the primacy of the need to deal with the health and welfare needs of the animal and clearly guides veterinary practitioners as to how they can do so – this guidance is freely available to all on the Department’s website.

The Department fully agrees with the sentiment expressed in the comment piece ‘Hard Cases Make Bad Law’ in your edition of April 15th - that it is unacceptable for an entire industry or sport to be cast in an unfavourable light due to the misdeeds of a few and that until the facts are known, and due process followed, it is irresponsible for anyone to make assumptions otherwise.

Whilst the Department wishes to avoid any direct commentary on the cases in question, we however regret to note that later in the article, it goes on to fall into the same trap as others have in recent times and offering an opinion that ‘both headline-making cases involved misdemeanours as opposed to serious or damaging wrong-doing’ - forgetting that one of these cases is still before the courts and yet to be determined.

Your readers can be assured that Department operates in a professional and fair manner and at all times acts in the best interest of sectors of Irish society, including the equine sector. - Yours etc.,

ULTAN WALDRON

Press Officer

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture House

Kildare Street

Dublin

Save us from the ghastly fumes

Sir, - It was with immense pleasure that I read Nick Nugent’s article in the April 29th edition of The Irish Field.

Someone finally had the courage and common sense to point out the folly of the use of prime viewing space around the Punchestown pre-parade ring and main parade ring for food vans. How can Punchestown consider it wise to expect the keenest racegoers to inhale the ghastly fumes from the back of these vans if they wish to see the horses in the saddling area?

Being able to see the horses up close is an important part of what makes it a better experience to go racing than to watch it on television.

I suggest that Punchestown gather all the outlets together and create a food village in the large space (largely unused) between the entrance and the main parade ring. With a bit of imagination and design, this could be a very attractive area.

Well done to Punchestown on another wonderful festival, but do consider the fans who attend primarily to watch the horses and see the racing. This will ensure continued strong attendances into the future. - Yours etc.,

NIAMH LYNCH,

Dunboyne,

Co. Meath.

Start earlier at Punchestown

Sir, - Now the dust has settled on yet another Punchestown Festival which had everything - great racing and the Willie/Gordon battle - I have a proposition for the powers that control racing in this country.

As a regular racegoer I think I speak for many people when I say I wish to see the great Punchestown Festival return to something like normal start times, e.g. having the first race at 2pm approximately.

I’m sure the usual answer will be given by both Punchestown and HRI (television coverage) but in reality there is no need to start so late and I’m sure all the people who have to work at the meeting would be in favour of an earlier start. Having the feature race at 6.05pm and clashing with the Six-One News cannot be ideal.

Fairyhouse finishing at 6.40pm on Irish Grand National day (a bank holiday) is really not needed either by anyone, especially those working in the industry.

It’s not too long indeed since Cheltenham changed to an earlier start and an early start is the norm at Chester, Royal Ascot, Goodwood and York, where there is no impact on attendances.

I hope I have provoked some debate with the above comments and hopefully someone might take them on board before next year. – Yours etc.,

JAMES ROGERS,

Caragh,

Naas,

Co Kildare.

Time for ladies to crack the whip

Sir, - I read with interest John Lloyd-Rogers’ article in the May 6th edition entitled ‘Are the ladies getting a fair crack of the whip?’ A subject that should, at the present time, be at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

With the recent outstanding and historic achievements of Rachael Blackmore one would have assumed that this would have made front page and headline news, but on returning to my most recent copies of The Irish Field I only managed to find a mention of Rachael’s achievement on page A25.

Surely this is an achievement that should be celebrated not just amongst those of us that read The Irish Field from cover to cover but by the public in general. In other words when they walk into their local newsagent on a Saturday morning it should be a front page article for all to see.

Returning to John Lloyd-Rogers’ article, where he discusses British lady riders, I was astounded to note that he made no mention of Polly Gundry; Polly was eight times UK leading lady point-to-point jockey, her seventh title (2009-2010) was won having ridden in 183 races and to win 39; she remains the ‘most winning’ lady point-to-point rider of all time.

I think it would be pertinent to ask again ‘Are the ladies getting a fair crack of the whip?’ – Yours etc.,

CATHY HAMILTON,

Thurles,

Co Tipperary.

Remembering John Wright

Sir, - Some of us more mature racegoers who would have had their first experience of going racing from an early age are familiar with the wonderful talent of Johnny Roe, who died last month.

Another former jockey who also died in South Co Dublin on the same day as Johnny Roe, and who coincidentally was also attached to the Seamus McGrath Stable in Glencairn, was John Wright. When I looked up John Wright’s significant wins in the Sweeney Guide To The Irish Turf, his name appears on six big-race winners.

The year 1954 was very significant in the career of both men. It was then that John Wright rode his first major winner aboard Arctic Time in the Beresford Stakes, and that same year Johnny Roe rode his first winner on Chosen Star at Naas.

The year 1957 was another important one in John Wright’s career. He won the Phoenix Stakes on Vestogan that year and he also rode the Paddy Sleator-trained Sword Flash to win the Irish Cesarewitch. He notched a third major win in 1957 aboard Solartickle in the Royal Whip.

Two years later John rode Sinna for the David Ainsworth stable to win the Trigo Stakes. He rode the 1962 Irish Cesarewitch winner Height O Fashion for Paddy Mullins, the famous mare defeating 20 rivals and carrying just 7st 5lb.

My memories of both men transport me back to the Phoenix Park, Baldoyle and Leopardstown. Remarkable that both men were once attached to the same stable and living their final years in the same catchment area of Sandyford and Stillorgan should pass on to their reward on the same day. May they rest in peace. - Yours etc.,

FRANK BURKE

57 Fortfield Drive,

Terenure

Dublin 6W