The Stewards today concluded an inquiry which was commenced at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 23 November 2014 into a report following the running of The BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint that SPALATO had briefly exhibited a restricted action in its right hind leg in the stable prior to being presented to race.
Further evidence was today taken from Mr J O’Hara, the trainer of SPALATO, and Dr P Curl, Executive Manager, Veterinary Regulation. Evidence was also taken from Mr G Mackie, owner of SPALATO, and Mr D Shepherd, Racing Manager for Mr O’Hara.
Mr O’Hara pleaded guilty to a breach of Hong Kong Jockey Club Rule of Racing 50(7) which reads, “Each trainer shall as soon as practicable report to the Veterinary Officer any veterinary condition having the potential to affect, or which might have affected, a horse's performance in any race”.
The particulars of the charge of having breached Rule 50(7) were that, as the trainer of SPALATO, a declared starter in The BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint conducted at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 23 November 2014, he failed to report to the Veterinary Officer a veterinary condition having the potential to affect SPALATO’s performance in the stated race, the veterinary condition being indicated by the following:-
1) That from around 2:12 pm on Sunday, 23 November 2014, SPALATO was exhibiting a gait and/or action indicative of a horse experiencing pain and/or discomfort in the area of its right hind leg for a period of time.
2) That at or around 2:17 pm on Sunday, 23 November 2014, he did massage SPALATO’s right hindquarter area for a period of time lasting until at or around 2:23 pm.
In the circumstances, Mr O’Hara was fined the sum of $75,000. In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration that Mr O’Hara had volunteered the matter of SPALATO’s right hind leg issue to a Steward on 23 November 2014 albeit after SPALATO had competed in the aforementioned race. They also took into consideration the forthright manner in which Mr O’Hara provided evidence throughout this inquiry. Mr O’Hara was advised that had it not have been for these mitigating factors the Stewards would likely have issued a more substantial monetary penalty.
Mr Mackie and Mr Shepherd were advised that their evidence had been noted.
