TONY Martin has had the three-month suspension of his trainer’s licence extended by another two months by the Referrals Committee and fined a further €5,000 for bringing racing into disrepute.

The extra penalties were handed out following Martin’s appearance in the winner’s enclosure at Newcastle on June 29th when a horse he previously trained, Alphonse Le Grande, won.

Although the horse was officially trained by Martin’s sister, Cathy O’Leary, at the time – and though Martin was not breaking any rule by being present – his high-profile appearance and comments made by both O’Leary and winning rider Hollie Doyle suggested that Martin was still acting in the capacity of trainer.

The episode prompted plenty of comment from the media and members of the public, who questioned the efficacy of Martin’s suspension.

Martin issued a public apology for his actions a few days later but the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board continued to investigate the incident and brought the case before the Referrals Committee on Thursday.

In his evidence Martin apologised for any embarrassment caused to racing by his actions and regretted that he had been in attendance at Newcastle.

He said the syndicate which owns Alphonse Le Grande invited him to Newcastle and he accepted the offer but stayed away from the horse and the stable yard prior to the race. He entered the parade ring prior to the race to wish the owners good luck and then, after the race, “he got caught up in the emotion of the horse winning what was a significant race for not a big yard and lost the run of himself.”

Martin admitted that he did speak to Hollie Doyle, rider of Alphonse Le Grande, prior to the race but clarified that Ms Doyle rang him due to his knowledge of the horse and it wasn’t a case that he had phoned her.

He said that he only became aware of the coverage the evening after the race and he immediately sought to apologise to the BHA and IHRB for his conduct and said that “if he had his time again he wouldn’t have attended Newcastle”

Martin gave an undertaking that he will not attend any fixture for the remainder of his suspension.

In giving the decision of the Referrals Committee, Lady Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan noted Hollie Doyle had “publicly credited Mr Martin with providing her with riding instructions prior to the race” and that Cathy O’Leary “indicated that she took a step back, allowing Mr Martin to circumvent the rules in relation to racing and act in all but name.”

The Committee found that “Mr Martin’s active participation and/or knowingly participating in racing-related activities while his licence is withdrawn constitutes a clear violation of regulatory rules.” Noting that his actions have “provoked substantial criticism and public commentary” the Committee said he had shown “a flagrant disregard of the rules” and had “brought horse racing into disrepute”.

Credit was given to Martin for his apology and his undertaking “not to attend racing or training gallops and to actively distance himself from training activities during the period when his licence is withdrawn”.

Further ban

The Committee took the view that “the appropriate sanction ... is to withdraw Mr Martin’s licence for a further period of two months from 16 August 2024 to 16 October 2024 and to fine him a total amount of €5,000 for breaching the two rules which is payable on or before 1 January 2025.”

Martin was originally given a €10,000 fine and a suspended six-month ban for a third violation of anti-doping rules in four years. He appealed that decision, as did the IHRB who felt the penalty was insufficient. The Appeals Body ruled that Martin should serve three months of the suspension. Martin challenged this in the courts and lost. The ban began on May 16th.