Henderson fined £40,000 and has restrictions imposed over Moonlit Path affair
Henderson was given a £40,000 fine and restricted from making any entries for his horses for three months following a personal hearing on Thursday.
The NTF expressed sympathy for Henderson and are hoping talks with the BHA over the use of treatment to protect horses’ welfare can yield satisfactory results.
The statement read: “The penalty imposed on Nicky Henderson by the disciplinary panel is severe.
“It is therefore important to recognise the panel accepted his breach of Rule 200 was on a limited basis and his primary intention was the welfare of the horse.
“While not condoning any breach of the rules, the NTF has sympathy with Nicky Henderson since every trainer’s main concern is the welfare of their horses and it is therefore a cause of great regret that a senior trainer of such impeccable reputation should fall foul of the rules on prohibited substances by acting in the interests of his horse.
“This is becoming a difficult area for trainers to manage and there is a debate to be had about the sense of banning the use of treatments that protect the horses’ welfare and are shown not to enhance performance.
“The NTF has already opened dialogue with BHA on this subject and looks forward to progressing them.”
Henderson himself released a statement to the Press Association saying he felt the punishment was harsh. The 58-year-old handler faced a possible disqualification from the training ranks, but will instead be unable to run any of his horses from July 11 to October 10.
Henderson said: “I am obviously hugely relieved that this saga has been concluded and, even though this seems a harsh sentence, we accept the findings and can now look forward again to the future and an exciting season ahead.
“As we are unable to have any runners for three months in our name, it is going to be all the more difficult to emulate last season’s amazing results, but this will make us try even harder to do so.
“Although the medication should not have been administered, I can only re-iterate, as the panel has accepted, that it was only given in the interest of the welfare of Moonlit Path herself.
“The support that I and all the family and the team have received over the last very testing weeks has been quite overwhelming and, under the circumstances, so much appreciated.
“My owners, fellow trainers, both National Hunt and Flat, so many friends (and) everyday racegoers have given us so much encouragement and backing.
“I can only thank you all enormously and this includes my legal team. I simply cannot tell you how much it has meant to me and everybody at Seven Barrows.”
Moonlit Path is one of a number of horses, including this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup seventh Barbers Shop, Henderson trains for Queen Elizabeth.
In a statement issued through At The Races, the Queen’s jumps racing advisor, Sir Michael Oswald, said: “We are disappointed. We will obviously discuss it but have not yet had the chance to do so. We need to read the findings and take them all in before any decisions are made.”
