John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, a prominent Irish horse trainer based in County Kilkenny, has been handed a 10-month suspension by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) on charges of reputational damage to horse racing. Hanlon’s rise in horse racing was chiefly due to his purchase of Hewick, an €850 horse that showed top-tier performance including a victory at the King George VI Chase at Kempton during the previous Christmas.
However, Hanlon’s reputation suffered a blow when a video of him towing a dead horse through Paulstown village in Kilkenny circulated on social media. Notably, the horsebox featured Boylesports’ sponsorship logo and ‘Team Hewick’ reference. Earlier in the year, Hanlon had secured a sponsorship deal with the betting firm.
Hanlon later clarified that the horse’s body cover had flown off while he was transporting it to a knackery in County Carlow. Following an investigation by IHRB, the findings of a hearing panel, led by Justice Tony Hunt, were released, citing Hanlon’s “gross negligence” in the transportation and the resulting “considerable detriment to the sport of horse-racing’s integrity, decency, and good reputation.”
The panel emphasized that Hanlon’s understanding of the situation should’ve been heightened by an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme, which focused on serious equine welfare issues and was aired just before the incident. They further noted his high profile and public comment on the RTÉ broadcast likely intensifying the controversy and backlash stemming from his association with the Paulstown occurrence.
The judgement referred to preceding situations like the infamous image of famed trainer Gordon Elliott on a dead horse, mentioning, “The inherent significance of treating a dead horse with due reverence should be well understood by all trainers, inclusive of Mr. Hanlon.”
Hanlon’s license has been put on hold for 10 months. However, he has the opportunity to reapply after a period of five months, provided he meets a set of conditions. Hanlon, stunned by the verdict, has a one-week window to contest it. Moreover, he was penalised a sum of €2,000 by the board.
Hanlon stated, “Given the circumstances, we intend to challenge the decision immediately. Unfortunately, I’ve been counselled by my legal representatives not to divulge too much information at this stage.” He expressed his shock and disappointment at the outcome of the hearing.
With this event, Hanlon adds to a growing list of ignominies related to Irish horse racing, joining others like Tony Martin. Last week, Luke W Comer also experienced a license suspension for a full year after decomposed horse remains were discovered at his estate in 2021.
On Thursday, the referral panel stressed, “Gone are the days for lax and permissive attitudes towards sport horses’ treatment, whether alive or dead.” The panel believed that this case needed a response beyond a mere financial penalty. It emphasised the importance of deterring trainers from neglect and low standards that could potentially tarnish the sport’s public reputation.
The authorities reminded license holders about the sport’s reliance on public funding and the strong bond people feel towards horses. Consequently, the public rightfully anticipates that sport horses be treated with dignity and compassion. The panel underscored that the IHRB must enforce reasonable conduct standards amongst licensed participants to meet these expectations.
One of the prerequisites Hanlon needs to fulfil to reapply for his licence is to abstain from any trainer-related activities for five months.
Hanlon has recently gained recognition due to his successful record with inexpensive racehorses. One such instance being his purchase of Skyace for €600 from Willie Mullins’s yard, which led to a significant Grade One victory in 2021.