Trainer John Joseph 'Shark' Hanlon fails in bid to delay suspension until April 2025

Trainer John Joseph 'Shark' Hanlon has failed in a bid to have his suspension deferred until April of next year, with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board referrals committee opting for a 10-week notice period instead.

As a result, Hanlon will begin the ban on 1 December.

The punishment relates to an incident in which he transported a dead horse in public view.

The trainer has already lodged an appeal and this hearing concerned when the ban would start, should his application fail.

During the suspension he must not be involved in training-related related activities, issue instructions to any jockey or other trainer, enter any weigh-room or parade ring or any other area of a racecourse restricted to licensees of the IHRB.

Hanlon made his case for the 1 April 2025 starting date citing the nature and extent his business and the difficulty of making specified alternative arrangements within the deferral period initially proposed by the committee.

However, the IHRB felt a lengthy deferral of sanctions would undermine their regulatory authority and the deterrent purpose behind it.

It noted by the committee that other trainers had the same or a shorter notice period in previous cases to make such arrangements.

Following deliberations, the committee found in favour of the IHRB’s stance.

No date has been set on the appeal hearing over the sanction imposed on Hanlon.