Shark Hanlon receives suspension over dead horse

Bagenalstown based trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has been handed a ten-month suspension and fined €2,000 by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) relating to an incident in Paulstown last June.

The incident, which involved the transportation of a dead horse, was deemed to have “caused significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of the sport of horse-racing.

The last five months of the ban are suspended provided Hanlon meets certain criteria.

The suspension relates to an incident on 14 June 2024 when a ‘horsebox festooned with images identifying it as the property of Mr Hanlon’ was transporting the carcass of a dead horse in an open trailer from a paddock in Ballygorteen, County Kilkenny to a knackery in County Carlow.

Although attempts were made by Hanlon before the trailer left paddock to cover the carcass from public view with tarpaulin ‘these had failed completely by the time the box and trailer combination reached Paulstown, County Kilkenny at around 5pm, such that the carcass was completely uncovered and fully visible to members of the public.’ The image was recorded by a member of the public and a video was widely circulated on social media, and the findings stated:

‘The adverse publicity then spread to the conventional media. Mr Hanlon’s conduct thereby attracted significant public opprobrium and adverse comment, relating to both Mr Hanlon personally and to the racing industry generally.’ After considering the evidence, the committee ‘concluded that Mr Hanlon was grossly negligent in the supervision of the transport of the horse carcass on the day in question.’ And they said: ‘Although there was evidence of attempts prior to departure to cover the carcass on the trailer by means of a tarpaulin secured by bungee cord and concrete bricks, these were obviously entirely inadequate.’ The incident occurred just two days after a high profile investigation into the treatment of horses in Ireland and the committee said:

‘The importance of proper respect for the carcass of the deceased animal ought to have been well-known to all trainers, including Mr Hanlon, following recent high-profile public controversies concerning the shortcomings of trainers and riders in other cases.’ In deciding on the punishment, the committee did take into account that ‘Mr Hanlon had no relevant previous record of rule breaches, and that the admissions which were finally forthcoming on the morning of the hearing were of substantial assistance to the Committee in disposing of the charges referred to it.’ The final five months of the punishment will be suspended ‘if the Committee is satisfied that Mr Hanlon satisfactorily observed the following conditions during the first five months of the period of withdrawal:- 1) Not to knowingly participate in training-related related activities or gallops, 2) Not to issue instructions to any jockey or other trainer as to the training or riding of any horse, 3) Not to enter or attempt to enter any weigh-room, parade ring or any other area of a racecourse restricted to licensees of the IHRB, 4) To give notice of any application to suspend after the expiry of an initial period of four months, to allow the IHRB to consider and respond to the matter prior to an application to suspend being processed by the Committee. It should be noted that the grant of a suspension of licence withdrawal is not automatic, and the grant or the conditions and duration thereof will be determined by reference to the full factual context of the application.’ Hanlon, who has enjoyed wonderful success over the last couple of years with the immensely popular bargain horse Hewick, has seven days to lodge an appeal and has already indicated that he will be pursuing that course of action.