County Durham-based veteran racing trainer Howard Johnson has announced that he plans to retire, having been given a four-year ban by the British Horseracing Authority.
A panel found he showed "a reckless disregard" for rules on horse welfare, after running Striking Article eight times after the horse had undergone a palmar neurectomy, an operation which involves severing or removing leg nerves.
The operation by definition leaves the horse unaware of pain in the area. Johnson admitted running the horse, but claimed he was unaware of the rules which state that that a horse that has been de-nerved is banned from racing on welfare grounds, and because it could affect the safety of the jockey.
When asked during the inquiry for his understanding of the de-nerving operation, Johnson said he believed it would help the horse become sound.
"I just wanted the horse to run...you have to try every corner to get a horse to win a race," he said. "I admitted that the vet de-nerved the horse but I didn't know it was called a neurectomy. The horse was in pain with the state of his feet, and the corns. We relieved the pain of that horse to run eight times, and the horse won three races."
Johnson added: "I am not the best man at reading the rules of racing.
The trainer was informed last week of the panel's findings following the conclusion of a two-day hearing, but a decision on any penalty was delayed until yesterday, when he was disqualified for three years with regard to the neurectomy charges, and one year for using anabolic steroids on three other horses.
Johnson indicated when contacted that he had no plans to appeal against the suspension and that he intended to retire from training. The trainer, who has a series of big wins under his belt since 1994, plans to issue a full statement early next week.
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