DANNY McLoughlin was fined a total of €4,000 and lost a winner following a recent Referrals Committee hearing.

Magny Cours was a notable two-year-old debut winner for McLoughlin at Listowel on June 1st, but the Awtaad filly tested positive for a banned substance after the race.

Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid commonly prescribed to manage inflammation and allergic reactions, was found in the filly’s post-race sample at a level four times greater than the international screening limit.

McLoughlin said he could not explain the adverse analytical finding, as the horse had been nebulised under the care of a veterinary surgeon a few days before the race.

Following the positive test result, the IHRB carried out an unannounced inspection of McLoughlin’s yard. IHRB veterinary officer Dr Graham Adams said that during the course of this inspection multiple prescription-only medicines, including Dexadreson, Marbodug, Dimazon, Engemycin and Subestin were held without veterinary labels or supporting prescriptions.

Dr Adams also said McLoughlin had failed to maintain complete records in the Medicines Register and that he had failed to ensure that the certification of several horses’ Equine Influenza vaccinations complied with the requirements of Rule 91.

It was also noted that Hurricane Hiker was declared as being under McLoughlin’s care and control at the time of the inspection, but wasn’t present in the yard and that a member of staff was observed exercising a horse without a body protector.

McLoughlin accepted he was in breach of a number of Rules and stated that he had cooperated fully with the investigation. He stated that he found the process very difficult and acknowledged that his administration and handling of the medicines register was not of the expected standard.

He said his business had grown quickly beyond his own expectations and that, at that time, his only administration support was a part-time secretary, and he was trying to do everything himself.

He now employs a full-time administrator and receives additional support.

The Committee disqualified Magny Cours and awarded the Listowel maiden to Luna Mia, trained by Michael O’Callaghan and ridden by Colin Keane. McLoughlin was fined €1,500 for that offence and a total of €2,500 in relation to rule breaches discovered during the stables inspection.