Sir Mark Todd to resume training after accepting breach for striking horse

Sir Mark Todd has been handed back his training licence after accepting a breach of the rules for hitting a horse with a branch in a widely shared video. He has been suspended since February 16 while investigations continued into the footage.

Todd, a two-time Olympic gold medallist event rider, has now accepted the breach of rule (J)19, concerning engaging in conduct prejudicial to the good reputation of horseracing.

Passing sentence on Thursday, chair of the independent disciplinary panel Brian Barker said: "The appropriate sentence is one of four months suspension, with two months of that deferred for two months. That means that the eight weeks he has already served is sufficient and that Sir Mark is able to operate under his licence immediately.

"Provided that there are no transgressions in the next two months until June 14, then that deferment will disappear."

Explaining the panel's approach to sentencing, Barker said: "In the view of the panel, the actions of Sir Mark could not be condoned in any form. His prominence and achievements have set a high bar of behaviour. We note the original immediate apology, which included that Sir Mark was 'very disappointed in himself'."

Tasman Bay: stable star for Sir Mark Todd since he started training in Britain in 2019Credit: John Grossick / racingpost/com/photos

Potential penalties for a breach of J(19) range from a fine of £1,000 to £15,000 or suspension, withdrawal or disqualification for a month to three years.

The video showed Todd hitting a horse on its rear with a branch multiple times in an attempt to coax it towards a water jump in a cross-country schooling session. The clip was widely shared on social media and sparked widespread outrage.

The affair reached a sudden conclusion after the BHA licensing committee met in private on Thursday morning to consider the suspension, in the expectation that the case would be contested and not heard before May at the earliest.

At a subsequent closed management and directions hearing of the disciplinary panel, it emerged there was some common ground between the parties which led to a potential basis of a plea of guilty for consideration by the panel.

The BHA was happy there was no ongoing equine welfare concern. At an inspection of Todd's yard on February 17, its officer found the training facilities were well maintained and all the horses were in a good condition.

A BHA statement issued on Thursday read: "As Sir Mark has himself recognised in public statements since the video emerged and in accepting that he was in breach of rule (J)19, his behaviour on this occasion fell short of the standard expected of all licensed individuals and ran contrary to the values of care and respect for the horse that underpin British racing."

Barker made several points about the video footage in the basis of plea, and said: "The horse showed no sign of fear or distress at any time. The welfare of the horse in the footage does not appear to have been compromised.

"Sir Mark is calm and is attempting to encourage the horse to drop into the water, having first satisfied himself that the horse was capable of doing so and had no fear of doing so."

But he added: "The use of a light branch, rather than a manufactured whip was not appropriate, particularly given the perception its use has generated in some quarters."

Todd, who has saddled 14 winners from 133 runners since he started training in Britain in August 2019, issued a public apology after the video emerged and stepped down as patron of the World Horse Welfare charity.

The statement, issued by the trainer on February 13, read: “I wholeheartedly apologise to the horse and all involved for my actions in this video clip. One of the main things I preach is about establishing a mutual respect between horse and rider, and that patience and kindness is the best way to get results.

"I believe this is one of the main attributes, along with a great empathy with animals, that has enabled me to have a long and successful career in eventing. I am very disappointed in myself that I did not adhere to that in this case."

Todd won individual eventing Olympic golds at Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988 and earned a knighthood for his equestrian achievements in 2013.

Tasman Bay is the Wiltshire trainer’s most high-profile horse, having finished second to Alenquer in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, third to Baaeed in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and filling the same spot behind Dubai Honour in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville at three last season.

Petit Bay was Todd’s first winner in Britain at Leicester in June 2020 and he saddled 13 winners from 80 runners at a 16 per cent strike-rate last year. Rose Fandango has been his sole runner this year, most recently finishing seventh at Lingfield in January.

Todd had previously trained in his native New Zealand and saddled Eminent, a Craven Stakes winner and fourth in the Derby for Martyn Meade in 2017, to finish second in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill in 2019.

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Trainer Sir Mark Todd suspended as BHA investigates video of horse being struck

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