Owner Coffey and trainer Coyle in breach of rules following stable inspection

Owner Patrick Coffey and trainer James Coyle have fallen foul of the Turf Club and found to be in breach of the rules following a stable inspection of Coyle's premises near Navan, County Meath by Turf Club officials in June.

It was established that four horses – Bendigo Too, Dottie Lottie, Joy For Mary and Miss Magoo – were being kept and being trained at Coffey's unlicensed premises despite being listed as in training with Coyle.

The referrals committee found that Coffey, rather than Coyle, was the instigator of what had occurred and that Coffey, who declined to attend the hearing to offer an explanation for the different breaches of the rules, had misled the public.

The committee imposed a two-year disqualification on Coffey and banned the four horses involved for 12 months with effect from October 5.

Coyle had his restricted licence suspended for 12 months but the committee decided the ban would not come into effect provided there are no further breaches of the relevant rules in the next two years.

In reaching its decision, the committee took into account Coyle's truthful evidence, his good record and his admittance of the rule breaches at the earliest opportunity.

The committee placed on the record that the penalty imposed on Coyle was specific to the case and should not be taken as a precedent for future cases.

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