FORMER trainer and billionaire business figure Luke Comer has been declared a disqualified person from Irish racing as a result of unpaid arrears of over €1.3 million originating from his high-profile Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) case.

On Thursday, Comer’s name appeared in Horse Racing Ireland’s weekly calendar publication, listed among “persons from whom arrears are due and whose names have been added to the Irish Forfeit List.”

The amounts relate to a long-running investigation into controversial positive anabolic steroid findings in 12 of Comer’s horses in 2021. The saga saw him handed a three-year training ban, and an appeal against the outcome of that hearing was unsuccessful in 2024.

Comer, a major sponsor in the sport, has long denied any wrongdoing or having knowledge of how his horses came to have banned substances in their system. The referrals committee involved in his case did not believe there was evidence of deliberate doping but, in the absence of any other plausible explanation, felt no option but to find Comer responsible for serious rule breaches. He was handed fines totalling €85,000 and ordered to pay 80% of the IHRB’s legal costs.

In February, the IHRB initiated High Court proceedings to obtain more than €840,000 in fines and costs from the Co Galway businessman.

Action taken

A statement from the IHRB yesterday said: “In May 2024, the Appeals Body considered Mr Luke Comer’s appeal against the September 2023 decision of the Referrals Committee relating to adverse analytical findings.

“The Appeals Body confirmed the penalties imposed for breaches of Rule 96(a) and (b)/(c). It directed that the fines be paid by July 15th 2024, and awarded costs in favour of the IHRB. The fines remain unpaid and the costs awarded to the IHRB remain outstanding. Under the Rules of Racing, sums due to the IHRB which have not been paid when due or on demand constitute ‘Arrears’.

“Rule 165 provides that the Forfeit List shall include such Arrears and the name of the person by whom they are due. The Forfeit List is maintained and published by Horse Racing Ireland in accordance with HRI Directive 8.”

As per the IHRB rule book, a disqualified person is not allowed to enter, own, train or run a horse, and they cannot enter any part of a racecourse, stand or enclosure other than those areas to which the general public is permitted access. They also are not allowed to enter or be granted entry to any licensed premises to engage in providing services.

Comer, based in Monaco, can still continue to be a sponsor in Irish racing, provided it is not Comer himself who is individually involved with such matters. Comer Group International were the sponsors of last weekend’s €500,000 Irish St Leger.