A stablehand has been banned from handling horses after he struck one under his care.
A stewards report released on Saturday night revealed Michael Blomeley was found guilty of striking Redders, a Danny O’Brien horse, at Sandown during the trials on January 15.
Redders, a 3 year-old gelding, finished second in his trial.
A registered stablehand, Blomeley, was ”found guilty of a charge under the provisions of AR 228(b), in that on Thursday 15 January 2026 at the Sandown trials, whilst handling Redders, he did strike that horse in the vicinity of the stomach region,’’ the stewards report said.
“Mr Blomeley had his privileges to handle horses suspended for a period of one month, commencing Sunday 18 January and to expire Tuesday 17 February 2026.”
Stewards said they took several factors into consideration in handing down the penalty, including the behaviour of O’Brien’s horse.
“In assessing penalty, Stewards took into account his forthright evidence, remorse, that it was his first breach under this rule and the behaviour of Redders leading up to the incident.”
