John ‘Shark’ Hanlon to Appeal 10-Month Ban Following Controversial Incident

Renowned trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, best known for his success with last year’s King George VI Chase winner Hewick, has announced plans to appeal the 10-month ban handed to him by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). Hanlon expressed his "disappointment" following the IHRB referrals committee's decision, stating that he would lodge an appeal immediately.

The ban stems from an incident earlier this year involving the removal of a deceased horse from Hanlon’s yard. The horse was transported on an open trailer, towed by Hanlon’s branded horsebox. During the journey, a tarpaulin covering the carcass became displaced, leaving the body exposed to public view. The incident was recorded by a member of the public, and the footage quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread criticism.

The IHRB charged Hanlon with actions that “caused significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct, and good reputation of the sport of racing.” The board highlighted how the incident attracted negative attention to both Hanlon and the sport at large.

In response to the ruling, Hanlon told the PA news agency, “We are very surprised and very disappointed with the results of the hearing. There is going to be an appeal put in straight away, and I’ve been advised not to say too much at this stage.”

The IHRB referrals committee determined Hanlon had breached rule 272(i), citing "gross negligence" in supervising the transport of the horse carcass. The committee stressed that proper respect for the deceased animal should have been paramount and concluded that the trainer's lack of adequate precaution to secure the tarpaulin resulted in avoidable public exposure.

The 10-month suspension is accompanied by a €2,000 fine. However, the committee acknowledged Hanlon’s early admissions regarding the incident and noted a subsequent inspection of his yard found no welfare issues. As a result, they indicated the possibility of reducing the suspension to five months, depending on Hanlon’s compliance with certain conditions.

“The committee is disposed to consider a future application to conditionally suspend the last five months of the 10-month withdrawal sanction,” the ruling stated, hinting at a potential reprieve based on mitigating factors.

During the suspension period, Hanlon is prohibited from participating in any training-related activities or offering instructions to jockeys or trainers. Additionally, he is barred from accessing areas of a racecourse restricted to licensees.

The outcome of Hanlon’s appeal will be closely monitored by the racing community, with his future in the sport hanging in the balance.