Hugh Horgan cleared by IHRB

JOCKEY Hugh Horgan has had two €1,000 fines quashed by the directors of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. The fines had been handed down by the Appeals Body following an appeal by the jockey against a 16-day whip ban. In dismissing the appeal, the Appeals Body also imposed fines of the jockey for lodging a frivolous appeal and for giving misleading evidence. However, the IHRB directors have overruled this decision on the basis that it was inappropriate for the Appeals Body to find new rules breaches at appeal, giving Horgan insufficient time to offer a defence. The matter should have been referred to the Referrals Committee.