Bolger spot on with anti-doping concerns as major issues remain

Four years ago, when the Racing Post revealed glaring shortcomings in the testing capabilities of the then Turf Club, Jim Bolger weighed in with the most forceful contribution.

"As racing in Ireland is at least as good as anywhere else in the world, the testing should be right up there with the best international standards, and we are not at the moment," he said at the time.

Since then, the regulator has morphed into the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, and, in 2018, severed its longstanding ties with BHP Laboratories in Limerick at a cost of around €500,000.