Ado McGuinness hits out at IHRB over failure to publish negative test results

Trainer Ado McGuinness has hit out at the handling of his case involving a missed post-race test for one of his horses at the Curragh in June, believing he has been unfairly portrayed by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

It was announced on Monday that McGuinness had been fined €750 for failing to comply with a "reasonable request or instruction from a racing official" over an incident involving Laugh A Minute prior to the Rockingham Handicap.

Dr Lynn Hillyer, the IHRB's head of anti-doping and chief veterinary officer, noticed a venepuncture (the puncture of a vein) with traces of blood on the horse when conducting pre-race tests, which McGuinness attributed to the horse being administered Duphalyte the previous evening by his veterinary surgeon.

Hillyer requested that a post-race sample be taken from Laugh A Minute, which McGuinness agreed to, but a member of the IHRB veterinary team contacted Hillyer 30 minutes after off-time to say the 11th-placed finisher had not been presented for testing.

McGuinness, who accepted his responsibility for a "complete breakdown in communications", says he is frustrated over the IHRB's failure to highlight in the referral report that Laugh A Minute had been subjected to "five pre-race blood tests that each returned negative". The IHRB subsequently responded to clarify that merely amounted to the five vials required for one full regulatory sample.

McGuinness said: "The IHRB portrayed me as if I tried to dodge a bullet, but I didn't dodge any bullet. I'm very frustrated with how they handled the situation and how they have portrayed it.

Ado McGuinness: 'What annoys me is that one phone call would have solved this'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I have no issue with them testing any horse, but my horses all returned negative tests and they never published that detail despite me asking them to do so.

"I accept there was a miscommunication with my staff and me, but I think the IHRB were just as much to blame, if not more. Their system didn't work on the day in terms of communication."

On how the situation unfolded, McGuinness explained: "The stewards accepted my explanation before the race and were quite happy to let the horse run. Dr Lynn Hillyer wanted to test the horse again and I told her it was no problem.

"My understanding was that the IHRB officials would have accompanied them back and taken the sample. I never went back near the stable yard that day, but stayed in the vicinity of the Curragh for two hours.

"My horses left the stable yard, according to the CCTV cameras, at 3.31pm, but they were still in the car park as we had to get two trucks moved to get my lorry out. The tachograph of my lorry says we left at 4.10pm. We had still been on the grounds of the Curragh."

McGuinness added: "Nobody rang me, nobody made contact with my staff. Basically, the first thing I knew about this whole thing was nine days later when I got a letter from the IHRB.

"What annoys me is that one phone call would have solved this. It's not just for me, but for the reputation of our industry. It doesn't help after certain insinuations in recent times."

The IHRB offered no further comment on the case, except for adding there is an appeals process open to anyone not happy with the outcome of a referral. That deadline has passed without McGuinness lodging an appeal.

Read more:

Ado McGuinness fined €750 after horse fails to appear for post-race test

McGuinness case looks bad so why didn't the IHRB publish crucial test results? (£)

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