Trainer Aidan O’Brien on Wednesday was fined a total
£10,400 by the British Horsreacing Authority
(BHA) following the trainer’s refusal to obey stewards’ instructions in the wake
of the Dante S. (Eng-G2) success of Cape Blanco (Galileo [Ire]) at York May 13.
O’Brien admitted “acting in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of horseracing
in Great Britain” at a BHA disciplinary hearing last month, as well as two other
charges in relation to encouraging traveling groom Pat Keating to refuse to
comply with instructions given by York’s stewards.
Cape Blanco was found to be lame by racecourse vets following the York
success, but O’Brien refused to allow the subsequent Irish Derby (Ire-G1) and
Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) victor to be trotted before the vets a second time
for fear of aggravating the injury further. The BHA published its findings
Wednesday and issued a statement.
“The Panel has considered very carefully whether the proper approach on this
occasion would be to deal with the issue by imposing a period of time during
which horses entered in races in Great Britain by Aidan O’Brien were not allowed
to race,” the statement read. “The Panel has determined on this occasion that it
is proportionate in all the circumstances to deal with the matter by way of a
financial penalty and have determined that a fine of
£9,000 is appropriate in all the
circumstances.
“The Panel recognizes that this is a significant sum and considers it
properly reflects the disregard demonstrated by Aidan O’Brien for the concern of
the vets and the proper conduct of horseracing in Great Britain. The Panel
wishes to note that if Aidan O’Brien were to breach the Rules in similar
circumstances again, this Panel would have no hesitation in acting to restrict
the ability of Aidan O’Brien’s horses to run in Great Britain.”