Middleham-based trainer Micky Hammond has been given an £8,000 fine and a six-month ban, suspended for 12 months after three of his horses tested positive for a banned raceday substance.
Micky Hammond Given Four-Figure Fine & Six-Month Ban
Three of Micky Hammond’s horses tested positive for a banned substance in the space of a month.
Veterinary medicene corticosteroid dexamethasone was found in the system of three of his horses. It’s used as an anti-inflammatory treatment but it is not allowed to be used on racedays.
The BHA rule (K)2.2 states that “no category B prohibited substance is present in their horse’s body on a day on which it is engaged to run in a race.”
Hammond admitted to the three breaches of that rule in a hearing on Tuesday morning.
But it wasn’t only this rule that had been breached.
The Grade 1-winning trainer also breached rule (D)11 stating that no substance may be administered on raceday except for normal feed and water.
But it gets worse as he was also found to have breached (D)24 where he has not kept a clear and accurate record of treatment to horses in his care for at least 12 months in a medication record book.
Panel Chair Surprised It Hadn’t Happened Before
Speaking at the hearing, panel chair HH Clement Goldstone KC said:
“The breaches have to be considered against the background of what we regard as a poor disciplinary record over a period of time, which Mr Hammond has accumulated.
“They arise in relation to what we regard as somewhat an unsatisfactory and amteurish approach to the systems in his yard of ensuring that his horses are not running with substances which ought not to be in their bloodstream.
“We accept that the three breaches of rule (K)2.2 relate to a substance that has never been found before in any of his horses. We think that is more by good luck than good judgement, because we regard the system which was adopted as having a single nebuliser for the infusion of saline and dexamethasone, which depended upon certain cleaning procedures and a system which was bound to result in breaches of this kind eventually.
“The face that three breaches occurred within a month is no surprise to us. The only surprise is that it had not happened before.”
Micky Hammond Enjoyed Decent Spell Before Bad News
Whilst he has achieved nothing close to his Grade 1 success with Cornerstone Lad in the 2019 Fighting Fifth so far this season, Hammond has had a decent time of things.
This season has seen the yard get 19 winners over jumps and one on the flat.
Hammond’s last win came on the 31st March 2026 when Aill Dubh won at Newcastle under Danny McMenamin.
WATCH: Cornerstone Lad Wins 2019 Fighting Fifth
