ALL licensees were recommended by a Turf Club referrals committee panel to have access to a microchip reader to help identify horses correctly prior to racing.

The recommendation arose after handler Andrew Lee was fined €500 for failing to produce the correct horse to run at the Carberry Clonakilty point-to-point on May 24th last.

The Referrals Committee noted that Lee had since purchased a microchip reader and strongly recommended all trainers to have access to one to avoid any such mix-ups.

The matter concerned the identificaton of Shadow Blue, handled by Andrew Lee, and due to run in the maiden on the date in question. The horse was withdrawn after veterinary surgeon on duty, Joan Taylor, could not positively identify the horse from the passport presented.

Andrew Lee explained the background to the mistaken identity and the committee also considered DNA reports and markings certificates from the Weatherbys Ireland Laboratories for both Shadow Blue and Medal Mint.

The committee noted that the horse produced as Shadow Blue was in fact Medal Mint and were satisifed that Lee had confused the identity of both animals under his care, noting that the right hind leg markings of both animals were fundamentally different.

Feedstuffs, Remedies and Drugs Seminar

A seminar for veterinary surgeons, trainers and handlers on Equine Foodstuffs and Supplements will be held on Wednesday July 8th at the Turf Club on the Curragh. Contributors are Dr Mary Canty on Equine Foodstuffs and Supplements, Louis Reardon on Managing Animal Remedies and Dr Tom Barragry on an Overview of types of Doping, Detection Times and Therapeutic Drugs, Screening and Medicines

REGISTER

Places are limited and on a first come basis. To book please contact Michelle Byrne at the Turf Club on 045445600 email michelle.byrne@turfclub.ie.