THE Irish Field and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) will jointly host a free webinar on cybersecurity at 7pm on Wednesday, December 10th. Expected to run for just over 30 minutes, the webinar is aimed at anyone working in the racing or bloodstock industry who wishes to learn more about how to avoid online scams and protect their computer systems from hackers.

Shaymus Kennedy, HRI’s chief technology officer, has prepared a presentation for the webinar and will take questions from participants afterwards. Scan the QR code to register for the webinar.

CONOR Stone-Walsh was successful in his appeal against a four-day careless riding ban imposed by the stewards at Fairyhouse on November 4th. The jockey argued that he did all that he could to maintain and correct his mount, Code Name Cubitt, within his racing line when finishing sixth in an academy hurdle on what was the horse’s first run. Having considered the evidence, the Appeals Body allowed the appeal owing to the balance of probability.

JOHN McConnell was fined £500 this week by the British Horseracing Authority over an incident at Chelmsford in March 2024. The Co Meath trainer sent one member of staff with two horses running at Chelmsford.

As the staff member was not familiar with the layout of the track’s facilities, they had to reduce the time spent on cooling down one runner before getting the next runner ready.

A racing official recommended to McConnell’s representative that dressings be applied to the legs of the first runner but this was not done due to time pressure.

TATTERSALLS Online and the Emirates Racing Authority will stage an online auction of horses in training in the United Arab Emirates from Monday to Thursday next week, November 24th-27th. A total of 15 lots will be offered, consisting of 13 thoroughbreds and two purebred arabians.

A TWO-DAY ticket for the Fairyhouse Winter Festival Weekend can be purchased online for just €40 now.

Saturday’s card features the Grade B EasyFix Handicap Chase. Sunday’s card has two Grade 1 races, a Grade 2, a Grade 3 and a €100,000 handicap hurdle. There will be live music after racing both days.