LEE Smyth, a trainer based in Magheralin, Co Down, has had his licence taken away for three months and ordered to pay a total of €10,000 by the Referrals Committee.

Smyth was found guilty of running two horses on multiple occasions in 2018 whose passports contained forged signatures in relation to equine influenza vaccinations.

The matter was brought to the attention of the racing authorities by a veterinary surgeon, Mark Seager, who noticed stamps and signatures purporting to be his on the passports when vetting horses for sales in 2018.

One of the two horses involved in the case, Ty Rock Brandy, won twice at Wolverhampton during the period under investigation but those races are outside the scope of the Referrals Committee’s jurisdiction.

Ty Rock Brandy has been disqualified from three Irish races in 2018, in which it finished fourth (twice) and unplaced. Stable companion Wowsham has been disqualified from two races in which it finished down the field.

Passing judgement, Referrals Committee chairman Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said: “It is accepted by Mr Smyth that the entries on the passport of Wowsham and of Ty Rock Brandy, each certifying the vaccination of the respective horses, were forgeries.

“In so far as that there is no evidence that either the horses or the passports were other than in Mr Smyths custody at all relevant times, the committee conclude that Mr Smyth caused, permitted or facilitated a making of a false entry on the passports to wit the said forged certifications.

“Consequently, we find Mr Smyth in breach of Rule 272 (i) in that he conducted his training and running of Wowsham and Ty Rock Brandy in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct or good reputation of horseracing in Ireland.

“We further find Mr Smyth in breach of Rule 272 (ii) in that by presenting the said passports for

inspection he knowingly supplied misleading information to raceday veterinary officials.

“We also find Mr Smyth in breach of Rule 273 (vii) in that he engaged in corrupt or fraudulent practices in relation to racing in Ireland by making or allowing another person to make a false entry into the passports of Wowsham and Ty Rock Brandy on a date prior to the presentation of the said passports as here to fore set out.

“Finally, we find Mr Smyth in breach of 273 (xiii) in that he caused, permitted or facilitated the making of false entries on the passports of Wowsham and Ty Rock Brandy, namely the false certification of vaccinations, and in presenting those passports to raceday veterinary officials and in doing such acts has acted in a manner likely to cause serious damage to the interests of horse racing in Ireland.”

The chairman added that Smyth’s actions “undermined one of the most important biosecurity activities of the IHRB to safeguard the racing industry in this country, which requires a thorough and professional application of veterinary standards to ensure the continuation of horse racing even in the most difficult circumstances.”

He said that such a serious breach of these Rules “effectively amounts to an attack on the efforts of the IHRB, trainers and owners to ensure that equine influenza does not overcome the racing industry.”

In mitigation, Justice Groarke took into account that Smyth had no previous serious misconduct and that his was a small family-run training establishment.

In relation to the breaches, the Committee suspended Smyth’s licence for a period of three months, fined him €6,000 and ordered that he contribute €4,000 towards the IHRB’s costs.

Smyth has the right to appeal the findings and/or the severity of the sanctions.