Licensed Trainer Howard Johnson has been charged with offences under the Rules of Racing having admitted to running a horse that had undergone a neurectomy whilst under his care. The neurectomy came to light following a post-mortem, after the horse had been injured in a race and subsequently euthanized.
In addition, and as part of an entirely separate investigation, Howard Johnson has also been charged with breaches of the Rules of Racing in relation to the administration of laurabolin, an anabolic steroid containing nandrolone, to three other horses under his care. Anabolic steroids are a prohibited substance and their use is banned outright under the Rules of Racing.
The Disciplinary Panel will consider whether or not Howard Johnson is in breach of:
- Rule 188 of the Rules of Racing (2007) and two of Rule (C)37 of the Rules of Racing by declaring STRIKING ARTICLE (IRE) to run in eight races between 11 October 2008 and 7 February 2010 when, by virtue of the fact that STRIKING ARTICLE (IRE) had undergone a palmar neurectomy to his left fore limb on 8 April 2008, STRIKING ARTICLE (IRE) was not qualified to start for such races under the Orders and Rules of Racing 2007.
- Rule 51(i) of the Rules of Racing 2007 (and subsequent to 7 September 2009, in breach of Rule (C)22 of the Rules of Racing 2009) by failing to conduct his business of training racehorses with reasonable care and skill by virtue of the fact that:
a) STRIKING ARTICLE (IRE) had undergone a palmar neurectomy to his left fore on 8 April 2008;
b) STRIKING ARTICLE (IRE) was thus prohibited under the Rules of Racing 2007 and Rules of Racing 2009
from being declared to run in races;
c) Howard Johnson was wholly unaware of the relevant Rule and thus declared STRIKING ARTICLE (IRE) to run
on 8 occasions after the horse had undergone a neurectomy on 8 April 2008.
- Rule 239 of the Rules of Racing 2007 (and subsequent to the 7 September 2009, in breach of Rule (C)50 and/or (C)55 of the Rules of Racing 2009) by causing or allowing to be administered laurabolin, a Prohibited Substance, to WHISKY MAGIC (FR) on 16 July 2008, MINTAKA PASS (IRE) on 29 April 2009 and MONTOYA’S SON (IRE) on 30 October 2009.
- Rule 220(iii) (or A(30) subsequent to 7 September 2009) in that, by causing or allowing laurobolin to be administered to WHISKY MAGIC (FR), MINTIKA PASS (IRE), and MONTOYA’S SON (IRE), he acted in a manner that was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and/or good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain.
A Disciplinary Panel hearing has been provisionally scheduled for 10 February 2011.
