One of Ireland’s most high-profile trainers, John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, has had his licence suspended for 10 months by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) for causing reputational damage to the sport. The Co Kilkenny-based trainer has risen to prominence principally on the back of top-flight success for his bargain €850 purchase Hewick, including when the horse landed the King George VI Chase at Kempton last Christmas. However, his colourful image was tarnished in June when film emerged on social media of a dead horse in a trailer being towed through Paulstown village in Kilkenny by Hanlon’s horsebox. The trainer later explained a tarpaulin covering the carcass had blown off during transportation to a knackery in Co Carlow. An IHRB investigation resulted in a referrals panel hearing chaired by Justice Tony Hunt being held last Friday. Their verdict was delivered on Thursday. The panel decided Hanlon had been “grossly negligent” in the transportation of the carcass and had caused “significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of the sport of horse-racing.” They also concluded that Hanlon’s appreciation of the matter should have been sharpened by the fact that the events occurred in the context of an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme relating to serious equine welfare issues being broadcast earlier that week. “His general media prominence and his previous public commentary on the RTÉ broadcast no doubt contributed to the intense level of controversy and criticism that sprang from his apparent involvement in the subsequent Paulstown incident,” an IHRB statement outlined. The panel also referred to previous cases such as the notorious image of trainer Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse and 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.” They suspended Hanlon’s license for 10 months, although he can reapply for it after five months if complying with a series of conditions. The trainer has a week to lodge any appeal against the verdict. He was also fined €2,000 by the panel. “There is going to be an appeal put in straight away, that is one thing, and I can’t say too much at this stage as my legal team have advised me not to say too much,” said Hanlon. “But we are very surprised and very disappointed with the results of the hearing.” It is another hugely embarrassing incident for Irish racing with Hanlon joining Tony Martin on the suspended list of trainers. Luke W Comer had his restricted licence suspended for a year last week following the discovery of decomposed horse carcasses on his property in 2021. Thursday’s referrals panel statement said: “It is by now well-established that the time for a lenient or tolerant approach to the treatment of deceased sport horses is long gone. The details of this case required more than the imposition of a purely financial sanction. The deterrence of preventable carelessness and lax standards by licensed trainers in matters capable of affecting the public standing of the sport is essential. Licensees are participants in a sport which receives significant public funding, and must also be cognisant of the deep affection that many people have for horses. The public are therefore entitled to hold legitimate expectations and concerns as to the humane and respectful treatment of both live and dead sport horses, and the IHRB must respond appropriately to those expectations and concerns by the meaningful enforcement of reasonable standards of conduct by licensed participants in the sport.” Part of the conditions Hanlon must satisfy if he is to reapply for his licence is that he must withdraw from any training related activity for five months. The trainer’s record with cheaply bought racehorses has seen him rise in prominence in recent years. His €600 buy out of Willie Mullins’s yard, Skyace, subsequently won a Grade One race in 2021.
Hanlon Suspended for 10 Months Following Dead Horse Incident
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) has suspended trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon for 10 months and fined him €2,000 after an investigation into an incident in Paulstown last June. The incident involved the transportation of a dead horse in an open trailer, which the Referrals Committee 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 Incident
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.’
The Investigation and Verdict
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.’ They further stated: ‘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 RTE aired 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 Conditions of the Suspension
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.’ The full findings of the Referrals Committee can be read here on the IHRB website.
The Impact of the Incident on Hanlon's Career
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 to RTÉ that he will be pursuing that course of action. Hanlon has been training under a full licence since 2007. He has forged a reputation for winning good races with inexpensive or homebred horses, such as Luska Lad and Hidden Cyclone. In 2019 he bought Skyace out of the Willie Mullins yard for £600. The mare went on to win five races for Hanlon, including the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares' Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse during the 2021 Easter Festival. His current stable star is Hewick, bought for €850 as a store. Now a nine-year-old, Hewick has won 10 races and almost €1 million in prize money. His big race wins include the King George VI Chase at Kempton, the Oaksey Chase at Sandown, the American Grand National at Far Hills, the Galway Plate and the Sandown Gold Cup.
What's Next for Hanlon?
Hanlon has seven days to lodge an appeal against the findings against him.
The IHRB's decision to suspend Hanlon's licence is a significant blow to the trainer. It is a reminder that the horse racing industry must be held to high standards of animal welfare. The case is likely to have a lasting impact on the sport and will be closely watched by horse racing fans around the world. It is also a reminder that social media can have a significant impact on the reputations of individuals and organizations. The video of Hanlon's horsebox transporting the dead horse went viral on social media, bringing the issue to the attention of a wide audience. This case is likely to lead to further scrutiny of the horse racing industry and its practices.
