A vet reported he had never seen a blistering treatment applied with as much ferocity as was to ex-British trained Mutamaasik while another horse was emaciated
A trainer has been kicked out of racing for six years hit over his “unacceptable’” treatment of two horses found in a shocking state in his stable.
Mohamed Ramadan is based in the UAE where he had trained 36 winners up to the end of the most recent campaign. He was issued with ten charges by the Emirates Racing Authority following an investigation into the welfare of two horses in his Al Ain stable.
One of them, Mutamaasik, had started his career in Britain where he won four times for Roger Varian and finished third in the 2020 Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He continued his career with Doug Watson in Dubai until 2021, then returned from a three year absence in February this year, running five times without success in new ownership for the Ramadan stable.
During an unannounced visit in September, ERA staff discovered Mutamaasik in “a very bad state” and another horse Shmshan “emaciated”. Both required professional veterinary attention.
Although the trainer claimed he had been treating both horses with medication, no substances were discovered in blood samples, according to the ERA.
A follow up report found Mutamaasik had undergone blistering for which he had received no pain relief, had lesions which were “significant, painful and infected” and had been left with a wooden cradle around his neck to prevent him biting the wounds.
Shmshan had a body condition score of 1 out of 5, required anti-inflammatories and “most importantly to be fed”. Both horses were transported to the Dubai Racing Club retirement home.
The report said Dr David Craig, the ERA head of Equine Health and Welfare, had “never seen a blister applied with this level of ferocity that it had been to Mutamaasik”, adding that the stable medicine cabinet contained “some banned and unregistered products, and a large volume of phenylbutazone, which was not being used.”
At a disciplinary inquiry Ramadan said he had left a new unlicensed member of staff in charge while he was on a two month leave. He said the blistering was performed by an individual who he refused to name.
He claimed Shmshan’s malnourishment was the result of a bout of colic and he. had been fitted with a muzzle to stop him eating his own faeces. The stewards panel found Ramadan, who pled guilty to all charges, had provided testimony which was “inconsistent and difficult to follow”.
In considering a penalty particular emphasis was placed on the lack of care provided to both horses.
“They noted that racing relies on horses as its most integral component, and it is unacceptable for them to be treated in a manner that violates both the ERA Rules and community expectations.,” the report said.
“The Stewards also underscored the need for the penalty to serve as both a general and specific deterrent, ensuring the integrity and reputation of racing in the UAE are upheld for the future.”
Ramadan was issued with disqualifications on nine of the counts and fined £1,000 on the tenth. The disqualifications will be served cumulatively, resulting in Ramadan being disqualified until September 2030.
