Hanlon's 10-Month Suspension Reduced to 6

Irish trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon has successfully appealed a previously imposed 10-month suspension, resulting in a reduced ban of six months. The initial suspension stemmed from an incident involving the negligent transportation of a deceased horse, which raised significant concerns regarding the integrity and reputation of horse racing.

Hanlon, known for training last year’s Kempton winner Hewick, faced serious repercussions when a deceased horse was improperly transported on an open trailer, attracting public outrage and media scrutiny after a bystander captured the incident on video. This led to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) bringing charges against him due to the perceived lack of dignity in handling the deceased animal.

The panel reviewing the appeal concluded that the original sanction did not adequately differentiate between Hanlon's negligence and more egregious actions seen in other cases. They determined that while his conduct was negligent, it was not intentional or willful, thus justifying the six-month penalty rather than the ten-month ban.

Starting December 1, Hanlon will have his trainer's licence suspended and has announced his intention to sell 28 horses at the Goffs UK October HIT & Yearling Sales this week. The decision reflects the panel's acknowledgment of the circumstances surrounding the incident, aiming to provide a more measured punishment.