- John ‘Shark’ Hanlon will begin his suspension from training on December 1
- Hanlon appealed against the punishment but his ban wasn’t deferred
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon will begin his five-month suspension from training on December 1 after failing in his attempt to get the ban deferred to next spring.
Hanlon, the trainer of King George VI chase hero Hewick, was found by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) to have committed an offence that caused ‘significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of the sport of horse-racing.’
They banned him for 10 months, five of which were suspended, after footage was circulated online in June of a dead horse being transported through Paulstown, County Kilkeeny in an uncovered horsebox belonging to the trainer. The carcass was visible to the public.
The severity of the punishment – which also included a €2000 fine – left Hanlon shocked and he has appealed against it. He also stated his case to the IHRB that, as a small stable, that an immediate start of the ban would have a catastrophic impact.
There have been cases in recent months, most notably that of Cheltenham Festival winning-trainer Tony Martin, where suspensions have started at a later date after the findings of a hearing. Hanlon, specifically, asked for his to begin on April 1, 2025.
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon will begin his five-month suspension from training on December 1
Hanlon was found by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) to have committed an offence that caused ‘significant prejudice to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of the sport of horse-racing.’
But the IHRB, having listened to his arguments this week, dismissed that proposition out of hand. It means that if Hewick, the horse who cost €850 but has won more than €650,000, is to defend his crown at Kempton on Boxing Day, he will do so for another trainer.
In a statement, the IHRB said: ‘The Committee decided that it saw nothing in the material submitted to justify deviation from the initial suggestion that the effective date of the sanctions should be 1 December 2024.
The Committee acknowledged (initially) these sanctions would be burdensome for Mr Hanlon in various ways. However, there was nothing in his circumstances to differentiate from those of other trainers put in the same position by similar decisions in other cases.
Hanlon insisted it was an unfortunate mistake for the horse’s carcass to be on show
‘These cases informed the initial proposal by the Committee of a deferral to 1 December 2024. To defer a sanction of five or 10-months duration (depending on the ultimate approach taken by Mr Hanlon) for well over six months would would disproportionately dilute the effect of the withdrawal sanction.
‘Accordingly, the Committee confirmed that the sanctions imposed in the initial decision will take effect on 1 December 2024.’
Hanlon, a colourful character who figured prominently in the first episode of the racing docuseries Champions: Full Gallop, is devastated about the impact of the incident in June and insisted it was an unfortunate mistake for the horse’s carcass to be on show.
He had made attempts to cover the trailer with tarpaulin but it had come loose and exposed the animal. The IHRB’s three man panel, which was led by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, were withering in their initial condemnation.
When the ban begins, Hanlon will not be able to visit any racecourses in Ireland or Britain and will be forbidden from speaking to any jockeys or trainers – or offering instructions – about any of the horses that had been in his yard.
