Trainer fined €10,000 for abusing clerk, while Patrick Mullins avoids sanctions in Limerick argument

The record-breaking champion amateur caused a stir after winning the Grade 1 contest on Gaelic Warrior with plenty of finger-wagging towards his cousin Danny Mullins. Danny had tried to sneak up his inside before the second-last on the runner-up Il Etait Temps. Danny aired his frustrations on Racing TV, stating that he had warned Danny about the potential gap on his inside but he hadn’t listened. Luckily, their actions didn’t cost them the race.
The matter was brought to the attention of the raceday stewards at Limerick who referred it to senior officials from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). Willie Mullins, who trains both horses, dismissed the incident as a minor issue. During an interview with the IHRB officials, Patrick Mullins admitted that he hadn’t expressed himself appropriately in his comments on Racing TV, which may have fueled speculation and subsequent comments. He apologized for his conduct and assured them that it would not be repeated. The officials accepted his apology and decided not to take any further action. However, he was required to pay €5,000 in costs.
Another incident involving Moloney and O’Mara was also discussed. Moloney accused O’Mara of harassing him with repeated late-night phone calls regarding an incident at Limerick, where Moloney serves as a clerk. Moloney claimed that O’Mara confronted him after a race in Cork, grabbing him by his shirt and tie. Moloney sought assistance from Frank Clune on the IHRB radio, but Damien Skehan, the racecourse foreman at Cork, arrived on the scene and O’Mara left.
After considering the evidence, the IHRB referrals committee found O’Mara’s behavior to be prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct, and reputation of horseracing. They fined him €10,000 and suspended his license for three years, with the suspension being held in abeyance for three years. This means that if O’Mara commits a similar offense or breaches Rule 272 within that period, his license suspension will be enforced.
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