DECLAN Queally Jr has been fined €1,000 over a "heated" exchange with starter Joe Banahan at the Galway Festival - also being warned that a repeat of his behaviour in future will see his licence “come under some scrutiny”.

The referral committee hearing took place on Tuesday at Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) headquarters following a weighing room incident between Queally and Banahan on the final day of the Summer Festival at Ballybrit.

IHRB stipendiary steward Andrew Ring had made the initial report about Queally’s behaviour and described the rider as being “fired up in relation to the lack of a start he received, in his opinion”.

Ring said Banahan was confronted in “an aggressive manner” and was “accused of not effecting a fair start for Mr Queally on this occasion, and also of inconsistent starts in general, possibly during the week and other weeks”.

Queally interjected to say that in the dispute, he was mostly sharing his frustration that, having left the parade ring later than other runners in order to avoid fines for an early exit to the track, he was disadvantaged at the start and didn’t get away on terms aboard intended front-runner Rocky's Howya.

Ring continued: “This occurred in the weighing room, with approximately 30 people there. Mr Banahan acted in a civil manner and didn’t raise his voice. He asked Mr Queally on a couple of occasions to have a private conversation - that this wasn’t the place to have the altercation as such - and while they proceeded down the hall, this conversation didn’t happen.

‘Crossed the threshold’

“I didn’t feel he was threatening, but his tone was aggressive. There wasn’t bad language used as such but I felt it warranted consideration from the stewards as it crossed the line as regards conduct towards an official... I felt it crossed the threshold of what respect is required towards any human being conducting their daily duties.”

Early in the hearing, Queally questioned the inability to view a replay of the start in question. However, the IHRB’s head of racing, regulation and integrity Christine Traynor reiterated that the focus of the referral was the rider’s conduct in the weighing room, rather than the merits of the race beginning itself.

Giving his side of the incident, the Co Waterford native said: “Obviously I was annoyed. It’s the Olympics of the summer [at Galway]... I had travelled up the road with the horse, who makes the running every day he runs. There had been a lot said about the new rules and parade ring rules for not crossing over, so someone has got to go to the start last.

“I was in bad luck that my horse had passed the gate [when the time arose to go to post] and I said we’d walk around and not take a fine for crossing over. I cantered down, had a look at a hurdle, got there and all the lads were lining up at the marker poles. I was getting my girth [checked]; I know I’m bringing up what happened at the start, but I’m just trying to explain why I was so annoyed.

“I walk down with my horse, wanting to make the running, and the lads were all lined up under orders. I thought the rule was that everyone had to walk in first time, but they were all standing. I trotted in, three lengths behind the last horse, and he let them go. I didn’t say anything when I passed him. I was last the whole way and got no run [finishing last of the 14 runners to complete].”

Queally continued: “When I came back in, I got an earful from my owner. I was very annoyed and going to have to ring my father to explain what happened; I thought he would have told me to retire. I came back in to Mr Banahan and was very annoyed. I went on to him that I had not broken the rules, not crossed the parade ring, and I got penalised for taking my time going to the start.

Heated exchange

“I apologise to Mr Banahan if I did raise my voice, but it’s like when sportspeople in any sport can have an aggressive talk when you’re annoyed - and that’s because you’re trying so hard. I was annoyed afterwards, but I’m glad I didn’t swear and that everyone agrees I didn’t swear. When you are fighting in a sport like this, things do get heated.”

Banahan, who accepted that no swear words were used, said that Queally was “revved up after the race because it didn’t work out whatever way he had envisaged” and that he “wouldn’t let me explain myself”. He added that he followed the rider towards the jockeys’ changing area to “try to work it out” but felt he wasn’t interested in hearing the starter’s side.

Banahan added: “I’m very reasonable. I just want to talk about the thing in a civil manner, in a private area. I don’t like shouting and roaring in front of everyone because, to me, that gives a bad impression. We have disagreements every day of the week with different riders and the majority will just come to you and say something wasn’t great, or can we do something else, but not in an aggressive tone or in a public area.”

Penalty decided

The IHRB proposed a €1,000 fine for Queally’s conduct and the referrals committee panel of Laurence McFerran (chair), Michael Sheahan and Nick Wachman accepted that recommendation.

Traynor said: “Officials, in any capacity, must be able to carry out their duties without being subjected to any type of behaviour such as what we see here today.”

Queally, while outlining that he was stern without swearing or getting into Banhan’s face, apologised to the starter in his final comments and insisted that such conduct would not happen again.

In delivering his concluding summary, chair McFerran said: “As a licence holder, Mr Queally, your behaviour on the day at Galway fell way short of what would be expected. You will be fined €1,000 and we are also going to remind you that with any sort of repeat of this, your licence will come under some scrutiny. It’s up to you from here on in.”

Queally holds the right to appeal against the outcome.