EVIDENCE from the analysis of horse hair promises to be a vital tool in the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board’s efforts to keep prohibited substances, including anabolic steroids, out of racing.

For the first time this week, the IHRB relied on the scientific analysis of horse hair in a disciplinary hearing. The analysis not only confirmed the presence of anabolic steroids in the racehorse in question, but also identified the month in which the substance was administered.

Hair taken from a horse can provide evidence of the substances in its body throughout the time that the hair has taken to grow.

This week’s case was the first in which an anabolic steroid has been found in a horse in training here. Trained by Denis Hogan in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, Turbine tested positive for nandrolone after winning a seven-furlong Cork handicap last May. It was his first start of the year.

However, after investigation, the authorities were satisfied that Hogan was not responsible for the administration of the drug, which happened last January.

Blood test

A second blood test was taken from the horse following his unplaced run at the Curragh on May 24th, and a third blood test – plus hair samples – were taken from the horse during an unannounced stable visit on May 30th. All samples taken from Turbine proved positive for nandrolone, while samples taken from five stable companions on May 30th all proved negative.

Hogan’s veterinary surgeon, Donncha Houlihan, subsequently approached the IHRB and offered a possible explanation for the positive tests.

He said Turbine could have been given Laurabolin, a product which contains nandrolone, when in his practice on January 24th for a wind operation.

Investigative work carried out by the IHRB in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, indicated that “Turbine had been exposed to nandrolone in a time window consistent with his hospitalisation in January 2019”.

Houlihan outlined how another horse at his practice was being treated with Laurabolin for three days at the same time as Turbine was there for his surgery, and was stabled alongside.

On Tuesday the Referrals Committee disqualified Turbine from first place in the Cork race and banned the horse from racing until March 21st next year. After noting that “the trainer had provided full cooperation to the investigation and that all responsibility was accepted by Mr Houlihan”, the Referrals Committee ordered Hogan to pay a contribution of €1,000 towards the costs of the investigation.

The Cork race was awarded to Time Stands Still, trained by Willie Martin and ridden by Adam Farragher.

The Referrals Committee said “this was not a case that should be associated with any other cases of this kind, as an error had occurred while Mr Hogan and the owner had entrusted the veterinary surgeon with the care of their horse.”

The month of May was an eventful one for Hogan. Three times that month his runners at British racecourses were the subject of unusual pre-race stewards’ inquiries. At the time there was speculation that Hogan was one of a number of Irish trainers being unfairly targeted by stewards.

Anti-inflammatory

Also on Tuesday, trainer Henry de Bromhead lost a winner due to a prohibited substance in a post-race sample. Game Present, winner of a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick on June 16th, tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide (TCA). The substance is a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory medication, commonly used in equine practice.

The trainer’s medication records indicated that Game Present has been administered a product containing TCA approximately two weeks before the Downpatrick race. A withdrawal time of 25 days had been advised by the trainer’s veterinary surgeon.

De Bromhead told the Referrals Committee he had made an error in entering the horse prior to the advised withdrawal time. This happened despite “strict practices” put in place by him following a prevous adverse finding for TCA last year.

Finding that the trainer had not taken reasonable precautions to avoid the rule breach, the Referrals Committee imposed a fine of €2,000 and awarded the race to Laureate, trained by Colin McBratney.