Racing

Oireachtas committee ‘happy’ with drug testing standards in Irish racing

Report recommends Government consider turning IHRB into a semi-state body

Trainer Jim Bolger has predicted a Lance Armstrong figure in Irish racing but declined an invite to the hearing to give evidence. Photyo: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

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Brian O'Connor
Tue Nov 9 2021 - 16:45

Irish horse racing’s drug testing procedures got a vote of confidence in Tuesday’s long-awaited report into the sport by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture Food & Marine.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, which polices racing, has come under intense scrutiny this year on the back of claims by top trainer Jim Bolger that drugs are Irish racing’s number one problem.

The former champion trainer predicted there will be a Lance Armstrong figure in the sector and said he has no faith in the IHRB’s testing procedures.

The controversy provoked by those claims has divided the sector with a series of Oireachtas Committee hearings held in July due to the reputational damage caused to an industry that has received €76.8 million in public funding in 2021.

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In those hearings, evidence was heard from IHRB officials as well as representatives from Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association whose chairman, Michael Halford, said Bolger had “maligned” Irish racing. Bolger declined an invitation to give evidence.

Concerns about a lack of transparency in the IHRB were repeatedly voiced by committee members during the summer, as well as concerns about the self-elected body’s lack of independent members and issues with gender balance.

Tuesday’s report recommends the Government review legislation in relation to the statutory functions of the IHRB and examine its current governance structure.

It said greater transparency in the operation and structure of the IHRB could help increase public confidence in the integrity of the sport.

As a result, over 200 years of independent regulation could be under threat as the Government has been urged to consider turning the IHRB into a semi-state body.

The IHRB was set up as a limited company in 2018 and includes the Turf Club which began in 1790.

Since then the self-elected body has regulated Irish racing and is separate in legislation from the semi-state HRI which has been racing’s ruling body for the last two decades. HRI provides funding to the IHRB with €9.6 million provided for integrity this year.

The report also recommends an independent review of the racing industry to ensure Ireland’s drug testing procedures match international best practices. Such a review should also include a full audit of all tests previously carried out.

It urges an immediate introduction of an electronic system - like the ‘AIM’ system for cattle - to ensure full traceability of thoroughbreds.

Crucially, though, the committee chaired by Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill is happy with the IHRB’s drug testing systems as they currently stand.

“We are happy that the testing standards in Irish racing are of the highest possible international standards.

“There was a lot of comment in the media and to restore public confidence we felt that transparency is very important and that’s what is coming out clearly in this report,” Cahill said in a virtual press conference.

“To me, the modern criteria that’s there, greater transparency was needed and that’s where a lot of our recommendations are coming from,” he added.

The report recommends that, in future, random samples be taken prior to the start of races, at the stalls or before the start tape, taking into account animal welfare. The committee also wants all favourites, and those finishing in the top five of any race, to have hair samples taken for testing.

Significant change

Although it’s drug testing systems were backed by the committee, the potential for significant change in terms of the IHRB’s governance is outlined in the report.

It points to the new legislation in the US which provides for an industry authority there with more members from outside the thoroughbred industry than within.

Members of that authority, it said, underwent a comprehensive screening process and the committee “believes that such a governance structure, comprising a certain number of independent members from outside of the horse racing industry, provides an example of best practice.”

It recommended that a majority of independent members be appointed to the board by the Minister of Agriculture, Food & Marine.

It called on the IHRB to take steps to improve the independence and gender balance of its board.

It also recommended the Department of Agriculture develop laboratory testing capacity in Ireland but, significantly, said that the lab testing must be carried out by independent sources.

“A laboratory in the proposed new National Equine Centre under the control of racing authorities would not be acceptable,” it said.

The committee report said it is a matter of “urgency” that CCTV be installed at all racecourses by next year and that it will be monitoring progress on this.