Shark Hanlon’s Racing License Banned After Video of Dead Horse Emerges

John “Shark” Hanlon’s racing license has been suspended for 10 months and got fined €2,000 after a video went viral showing a dead horse being transported in an open trailer. The incident happened last June 14 when the dead horse was towed through Paulstown, County Kilkenny which happened to die overnight in the Paddock. The carcass was on an open trailer attached to one of Hanlon’s horseboxes, which was clearly marked with the well-known “#TeamHewick” branding. The video of the exposed horse quickly sparked public outrage and led to the investigation.

While Hanlon made attempts to cover the horse’s remains with a tarpaulin, the covering was ineffective, and the carcass was fully exposed during the journey. This was the cause of public outrage when the whole scene was caught on video by a motorist traveling behind the trailer. The viral video has swept through social media platforms drawing attention and concern for the horse’s treatment. It quickly went viral online, eventually caught the eye of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, and launched an investigation into the incident.

Last week, the IHRB’s referrals committee held a hearing to discuss the case and determine an appropriate response. The committee ultimately concluded that Hanlon’s failure to securely and discreetly transport the deceased horse was negligent and that his actions had caused harm to the integrity and reputation of the sport. The IHRB emphasized that the minimum requirement for such transportation is to ensure that the remains are properly covered and out of public view, not only to preserve the dignity of the deceased animal but also to respect the sensitivities of the public.

The timing of this incident was particularly problematic, as it followed closely on the heels of a major RTE Prime Time investigation into horse welfare in Ireland. Hanlon’s involvement in the case, paired with the media coverage surrounding the investigation, further intensified the scrutiny of him. The IHRB committee made it clear that leniency in such situations is no longer acceptable, especially given the growing public awareness and concern regarding horse welfare. They stressed the importance of ensuring kind treatment standards for both living and deceased horses.

The racing license suspension also bars Hanlon from any training activity including instructing jockeys and other trainers, besides not allowing him into restricted areas of the racecourse such as the parade ring or weighing room. On the other hand, the committee said that whenever Hanlon complies with all the conditions of the ban, he will be allowed to file an appeal to lift the ban.

Hanlon is widely recognized for his success in horse racing game, having trained Hewick, the £800 horse that won the prestigious King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day last year. Despite his achievements in the horse racing game, this recent incident has cast a shadow over his career. Hanlon now has seven days to appeal the IHRB’s decision if he chooses to challenge the ruling.

The incident inflamed wider debate on the handling of horses in the racing industry, especially in their remains. The racing industry learned that the public had grown more outspoken in demands for humane treatment in life and death. This decision underlined IHRB’s commitment to stringent standards of behavior and to the integrity of a sport that was under public scrutiny.

The Road Ahead

While the world of the racing fraternity tries to digest the aftermath of this incident, how Hanlon would respond to his racing license suspension, whether an appeal against this order would be considered, remains to be seen. Whatever that might be, this is a case that once again shows what responsibilities rest with trainers and participants in the industry: taking care not only of horses entrusted to them but also maintaining the prestige of the sport itself.