Guest license unlikely to be revoked

Richard Guest is unlikely to have his trainer’s license withdrawn despite admitting animal cruelty following the death of a racehorse that was incorrectly treated.

Guest was conditionally discharged for two years after What’s A Filly had to be put down having developed a severe infection in her near hind leg while staying at his stables.

The Durham-based handler admitted a charge of permitting the horse to suffer unnecessarily by failing to exercise reasonable care and supervision.

His head lad Richard Dalton, 41, and head girl Louise Tidman, 34, admitted omitting to provide veterinary care.

However, Paul Struthers, PR manager for the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA), revealed Guest is not likely to have his license revoked as a consequence.

Instead, the HRA appears set to hold a hearing into the incident, which may result in a fine.

Struthers said: “We will obtain a certificate of conviction from the court and once that’s been received our disciplinary department will decide whether they need to convene a hearing, although it’s almost certain there will be one.

“Given the comments of the deputy district judge, such a hearing is likely to result in a financial penalty as opposed to the withdrawal of Richard Guest’s licence.”

What’s A Filly had won at 100-1 in December 2004 but was put down 12 months later.

She suffered a fall at Uttoxeter in July last year and was making a slow recovery at Guest’s yard.

But when her owners moved her to another yard near York, vets there found she had a severe infection, which was impossible to treat.

A wound on her near hind leg, just above the hoof, became infected and the infection spread to her tendon sheath.

There was no option but to have her put down, the court heard.

The thoroughbred would have been in pain and had been infected for up to six weeks.

The case has had a devastating effect on Guest, who won the Grand National as a jockey in 2001 on Red Marauder, the court heard.

He was described as having a lifelong devotion to horses and was known both for his courageous riding and for his successes as a trainer.

Since he was summoned, he has lost control of the Brancepeth Manor Farm stables, near Durham, where all three defendants reside.

Keith Thomas, for the defence, told Durham Magistrates’ Court: “Richard Guest has lost his business.

“While he is still training - he had a winner last week - he is now in a position of an employed trainer.”

Mr Thomas said his client has suffered “acute mental stress” in the 11 months since the horse died.

Deputy District Judge Mary Hayes conditionally discharged all three defendants for two years.

She ordered Guest to pay £4,730 (€7,000) costs but declined to make an order to the horse’s joint-owners for compensation.

She said she had considered making a community punishment but felt mitigating evidence that the yard was well-run made her think again.

“I do not find there was any callous disregard for the welfare of that animal,” she said.

“There is nothing to suggest that.”

She said she was not minded to impose a disqualification on keeping animals on any defendant.

The RSPCA brought the case and Chief Inspector Justin Lemasurier said outside court: “It is a cursory and salutary lesson for anybody in the business of managing horses on behalf of others.

“There have been some very hard lessons learned.

“I think, as the judge has said, it’s an extremely sad case, because the fact is that What’s A Filly suffered and had to be put down.

“This was actually preventable had she had the correct and speedy veterinary treatment which she clearly deserved and required.”

John Grayshon, joint-owner of the mare with Peter Goldie, said the partners will now take legal advice about compensation.

The 57-year-old from Birkinshaw, West Yorkshire, said: “He (Guest) has been convicted of animal cruelty.

“Justice has been done to a point and he has suffered a great loss.

“It’s just unfortunate that she died because I think she could have been good.

“She was progressing.”

Guest declined to comment as he left court, apart from to say he was “pleased".