Licensed trainer Ian McInnes and owner William Morris have been informed they will be required to attend a Disciplinary Panel hearing to consider possible breaches of the Rules of Racing, as follows:
Ian McInnes
1) Is Ian McInnes in breach of Rule (C)37 of the Rules of Racing in that he declared COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE) to run in the races set out below when, by virtue of the fact that COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE) had undergone a biaxial neurectomy to his right hind plantar digital nerve on 29th July 2008, COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE) was not qualified to start for such races under the Rules of Racing:
a) Musselburgh 1st May 2009: The ISS Facilities Services Handicap Stakes
b) York 15th May 2009: The sportingbet.com Stakes
c) Doncaster 6th June 2009:The 32Red Awarded Best Casino Group Again Handicap
d) Carlisle 24th June 2009: The Lloyd Motor Group Carlisle Bell
e) Wolverhampton 7th July 2009: The CE Property Services Group Handicap Stakes
f) Pontefract 17th July 2009: The “Better Late Than Never” Handicap Stakes
g) Pontefract 5th August 2009: The Matty Brown Veterans Handicap Stakes
h) Wolverhampton 10th August 2009: The Stay At The Wolverhampton Holiday Inn Handicap Stakes
i) Thirsk 5th September 2009: The Waterholmes Handicap Stakes.
2) Is Ian McInnes in breach of Rule (C)22 of the Rules of Racing in that he failed to conduct his business of training racehorses with reasonable care and skill by virtue of the fact that
a) COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE) had undergone a biaxial neurectomy to his right hind on 29th July 2008
b) COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE) was thus prohibited under the Rules of Racing from being declared to run in races,
c) Ian McInnes claims to have been wholly unaware of the relevant Rule and thus declared COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE) to run on nine occasions after the horse had undergone a neurectomy on 29th July 2008.
3) Is Ian McInnes in breach of Rule (A)31.2 in that he deliberately misled Investigating Officers of the BHA
a) On the 14th and 15th November 2011 when he denied knowing the whereabouts of COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE)
b) Explicitly lied about his knowledge of the horse having undergone the neurectomy procedure to its right hind on 29th July 2008, and
c) By making arrangements to have the horse removed from his yard to avoid the BHA having access to COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE) for the purposes of examination.
William Morris
1) By virtue of the fact that William Morris has admitted to being the owner of COMMANDO SCOTT (IRE), is William Morris in breach of Rule (A)31.2 of the Rules of Racing in that he misled Investigating Officers of the BHA on 17th October and 1st November 2011 when questioned about COMMANDO SCOTT’s medical history, more specifically failing to admit when interviewed that the horse had had undergone a veterinary procedure.
