RACEHORSE trainers believe they are being unfairly fined for withdrawing runners due to a change in ground conditions.

The stewards usually fine trainers €200 for withdrawing horses on racedays because of ground conditions though the fine is often waived if there has been a material change in the going since declaration time.

At Listowel last Saturday four horses were withdrawn due to ground conditions. The official going on the day was soft, having been officially soft at declaration time, and so the stewards imposed the €200 fine in all cases.

It was more contentious at Wexford on June 2nd when five trainers were fined for taking out their horses due to ground conditions. This was an unusual case in that the ground was ‘yielding, good in places’ at declaration time but this changed to good on the morning of the race, before some rain fell and brought the ground back to its original description by racetime.

Referring to the Wexford case, Michael Grassick, CEO of the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association, said: “The rain arrived at 11.30am on raceday but the trainers had withdrawn their horses earlier, to give the reserves a chance to run. It was totally unjust to fine those trainers. I have written to Denis Egan [chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board] about it and I am awaiting a positive response.”

A spokesperson for the IHRB said: “Fines and suspensions are imposed as per the rules unless the stewards deem the reason for not running to be valid, whether that is change in going or any other reason.

“For going, fines will be issued on occasions where the stewards are not satisfied that there has been a material change in going. On occasions where there is a significant change in going or the weather forecast issued did not materialise the stewards will use their discretion to not issue a fine. Each set of circumstances is considered on its own merits and a penalty will be imposed or not.

“Trainers are encouraged to see the stewards to make their case that their reason for not running is valid and it is the responsibility of a trainer to clarify with the stewards if the reason for a non-runner has been accepted. All trainers have the right to appeal any such fine.”

Grassick added: “Part of the problem is that we have 48-hour declarations for all meetings, which I assume is going to be phased out as the Covid situation eases. It is costing owners and trainers money.”

The entries system could also be tweaked, he feels. “Balloting numbers are not published until a day after entries close. It would help trainers if they could get this information at some stage on the same day as entries close. At the moment you have to make entries for Thursday meetings a full week in advance. It would help if entries were taken on Friday for those meetings.”