Dramatic increase in testing of horses ’in-training’

Statistical evidence of the Turf Club’s dramatically increased testing of horses ‘in-training’ has come from the Integrity body’s statistical report for 2013 which outlines over four times more tests carried out than in the previous year.

A total of 283 tests were carried out on horses in-training compared to 70 in 2012 and just 21 in 2009.

All 283 test results were negative. In total 3,207 horses were tested for prohibited substances by the Turf Club last year with one positive result occurring in a point-to-point.

"The increase in relation to horses in-training is a direct result of the anabolic steroid problems in the UK, and also in relation to the seizure of substances in Ireland," the Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said yesterday.

At Carlow District Court in October, John Hughes, a retired Department of Agriculture Veterinary Inspector, pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of banned animal substances, including an anabolic steroid.

The case was subsequently dismissed “on its merits” after Hughes made a donation to charity and agreed to pay court costs.

A raid by Gardái and Customs on Hughes’s property in February also uncovered a list of names of licensed trainers names and contact details.

Egan said yesterday investigations into the matter are “ongoing.”

A total of 165 drug tests on jockeys were carried out by the Turf Club last year with four positive results.

They included classic winning rider John Egan who failed to declare he was taking the prescribed medicine prednisolone which he was taking for a medical condition.

At a subsequent hearing the Turf Club accepted Egan’s explanation that he had declared the substance previously but not for that test in March.