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Royal Ascot-winning trainer convicted of possessing anabolic steroid Royal Ascot-winning trainer convicted of possessing anabolic steroid
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Pat Hughes, one of the few trainers to have saddled winners at both the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot, was fined €2,500 and told to pay €5,600 in legal costs and expenses by a court in County Carlow on Thursday after he was found guilty of possessing unauthorised animal remedies including stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.Pat Hughes, one of the few trainers to have saddled winners at both the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot, was fined €2,500 and told to pay €5,600 in legal costs and expenses by a court in County Carlow on Thursday after he was found guilty of possessing unauthorised animal remedies including stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.
Hughes, who has also trained two winners of the Irish Grand National, the most recent of which was Point Barrow in 2006, was charged with eight counts of possessing unauthorised remedies following a raid on his stable by inspectors from Ireland’s Department of Agriculture in February 2012. He pleaded not guilty to all charges at Thursday’s hearing, but Judge Eamon O’Brien, who described it as “a sad case”, found in favour of the state.Hughes, who has also trained two winners of the Irish Grand National, the most recent of which was Point Barrow in 2006, was charged with eight counts of possessing unauthorised remedies following a raid on his stable by inspectors from Ireland’s Department of Agriculture in February 2012. He pleaded not guilty to all charges at Thursday’s hearing, but Judge Eamon O’Brien, who described it as “a sad case”, found in favour of the state.
Three bottles containing stanozolol were found in a Portakabin at Hughes’s yard. The steroid, which was described in court as being used for “building muscle mass”, was the product used by Ben Johnson before he was stripped of his Olympic 100m gold medal in 1988.Three bottles containing stanozolol were found in a Portakabin at Hughes’s yard. The steroid, which was described in court as being used for “building muscle mass”, was the product used by Ben Johnson before he was stripped of his Olympic 100m gold medal in 1988.
Other items found by three inspectors during their visit in 2012 were vetaglin, a painkiller; jurocyl, which is a low dose of arsenic and used as an appetite stimulant; diurex, a diuretic; aspegic powder, which is similar to aspirin; AMP 5, which is used to dilate the blood vessels and “enhance performance”; VAM, a vitamin and mineral booster; and L-Carnitine, an amino-acid supplement. None of the products is authorised for use on animals in Ireland.Other items found by three inspectors during their visit in 2012 were vetaglin, a painkiller; jurocyl, which is a low dose of arsenic and used as an appetite stimulant; diurex, a diuretic; aspegic powder, which is similar to aspirin; AMP 5, which is used to dilate the blood vessels and “enhance performance”; VAM, a vitamin and mineral booster; and L-Carnitine, an amino-acid supplement. None of the products is authorised for use on animals in Ireland.
Following Thursday’s hearing, a spokesman for the Turf Club, which regulates horse racing in Ireland, said that the body had no comment to make, other than that the ruling and its ramifications will now be “discussed” by the club’s officials.Following Thursday’s hearing, a spokesman for the Turf Club, which regulates horse racing in Ireland, said that the body had no comment to make, other than that the ruling and its ramifications will now be “discussed” by the club’s officials.
Hughes, 72, trains at Fenniscourt Stud near Bagenalstown in County Carlow. He saddled Time Machine to win the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot in 1985, and Antarctic Bay, the winner of Cheltenham’s Sun Alliance (now RSA) Chase, also in 1985.Hughes, 72, trains at Fenniscourt Stud near Bagenalstown in County Carlow. He saddled Time Machine to win the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot in 1985, and Antarctic Bay, the winner of Cheltenham’s Sun Alliance (now RSA) Chase, also in 1985.
John Hughes, the trainer’s brother and a retired vet, pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing unlicensed animal products, including steroids, in October 2013, though the case was dismissed “on its merits”, with Hughes agreeing to pay £10,000 to an animal charity.John Hughes, the trainer’s brother and a retired vet, pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing unlicensed animal products, including steroids, in October 2013, though the case was dismissed “on its merits”, with Hughes agreeing to pay £10,000 to an animal charity.
The case involving leading trainer Philip Fenton, who faces similar charges including possession of steroids following a raid on his stable in January 2012, is due to return to court later this month. The case involving the leading trainer Philip Fenton, who faces similar charges including possession of steroids following a raid on his stable in January 2012, is due to return to court later this month.
One of the most open renewals of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for many years is in prospect at Longchamp on Sunday after a total of 20 intended runners, including the supplementary entry Tapestry, were left in the race on Thursday ahead of the draw for stall positions on Friday morning.One of the most open renewals of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for many years is in prospect at Longchamp on Sunday after a total of 20 intended runners, including the supplementary entry Tapestry, were left in the race on Thursday ahead of the draw for stall positions on Friday morning.
Taghrooda, the Oaks and King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, is a narrow 5-1 favourite for the race with bookmakers, just ahead of the Prix Niel winner Ectot, who is top-priced at 13-2. Tapestry, who beat Taghrooda in the Yorkshire Oaks in August but was an unexpected late addition to the field, will be ridden by Ryan Moore and can be backed at a top price of 16-1. Taghrooda, the Oaks and King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, is a narrow 5-1 favourite for the race with the leading bookmakers, just ahead of the Prix Niel winner Ectot, who is top-priced at 13-2 .
Chelmsford City racecourse in Essex could stage more meetings than the long-established all-weather track at Southwell in 2015 after the new management at the track - formerly known as Great Leighs - said on Thursday that the course will be granted “at least 56” fixtures next year. Tapestry, who beat Taghrooda in the Yorkshire Oaks in August but was an unexpected late addition to the field, will be ridden by Ryan Moore and can be backed at a top price of 16-1.
Chelmsford City racecourse in Essex could stage more meetings than the long-established all-weather track at Southwell in 2015 after the new management at the track – formerly known as Great Leighs – said on Thursday that the course will be granted “at least 56” fixtures next year.
Kempton Park, Wolverhampton and Lingfield will all stage more than 90 all-weather meetings in 2014, while Southwell, which also has 21 scheduled National Hunt fixtures this year, has 50 Flat fixtures on its Fibresand track.Kempton Park, Wolverhampton and Lingfield will all stage more than 90 all-weather meetings in 2014, while Southwell, which also has 21 scheduled National Hunt fixtures this year, has 50 Flat fixtures on its Fibresand track.
If the claim by Chelmsford City is correct, the revived track, which originally closed in January 2009, just 10 months after it became the first new course in Britain for 80 years, could leapfrog Southwell to become the fourth-busiest track in the country.If the claim by Chelmsford City is correct, the revived track, which originally closed in January 2009, just 10 months after it became the first new course in Britain for 80 years, could leapfrog Southwell to become the fourth-busiest track in the country.
The BHA will not comment on the fixtures process until the official fixture list is published later this month. The Authority did release a brief statement relating to Chelmsford City on Thursday, however, following a report in this week’s edition of Private Eye magazine that John Holmes, the bankrupt former millionaire who conceived and launched the original Great Leighs, still has connections to the course. Holmes is currently on bail after being arrested over his alleged involvement in a £2.4m VAT fraud.The BHA will not comment on the fixtures process until the official fixture list is published later this month. The Authority did release a brief statement relating to Chelmsford City on Thursday, however, following a report in this week’s edition of Private Eye magazine that John Holmes, the bankrupt former millionaire who conceived and launched the original Great Leighs, still has connections to the course. Holmes is currently on bail after being arrested over his alleged involvement in a £2.4m VAT fraud.
The course is now owned by Great Leighs Estates Limited, a consortium which includes the leading bookmaker Fred Done.The course is now owned by Great Leighs Estates Limited, a consortium which includes the leading bookmaker Fred Done.
“Nothing was printed in Private Eye that the BHA were not already aware of,” Robin Mounsey, the BHA’s spokesman, said. “The corporate structure of GLEL [Great Leighs Estates Limited] has been independently reviewed and verified.”“Nothing was printed in Private Eye that the BHA were not already aware of,” Robin Mounsey, the BHA’s spokesman, said. “The corporate structure of GLEL [Great Leighs Estates Limited] has been independently reviewed and verified.”