The Stewards today concluded an inquiry which was commenced on 24 March 2022 into video footage of SOLAR WINDS (G154), trained by Dennis C H Yip, working on the Large All Weather Track at Sha Tin on 27 December 2021.

Mr Yip today pleaded guilty to a breach of Instruction 8 (1) (i) which states:

Inst. 8. Bleeding/Irregular Heart Rhythm
(1) (i) Any horse which bleeds, either from one or both nostrils, must be reported by the Trainer, or his authorised staff, to the Stewards and to the Veterinary Officer or the Veterinary Surgeon, as soon as possible on the same day that the horse bleeds.

The particulars of the charge being that:

(1) On Monday, 27 December 2021 he was the Trainer of SOLAR WINDS (G154);

(2) At or about the conclusion of trackwork hours on the morning of Monday, 27 December 2021 he was notified by his allocated Assistant Trainer Mr Wilson M H Chan that SOLAR WINDS (G154) had blood at its nose after that horse worked earlier that morning;

(3) Having been notified that SOLAR WINDS (G154) had blood at its nose after working on the morning of Monday, 27 December 2021 he:

(a) failed to report that SOLAR WINDS (G154) was found to have blood at its nose to a Veterinary Officer or Veterinary Surgeon as soon as possible on the same day, or
(b) failed to ensure that a member of his authorised staff reported to a Veterinary Officer or Veterinary Surgeon as soon as possible on the same day that SOLAR WINDS (G154) had blood at its nose.

(4) By having failed to ensure that SOLAR WINDS (G154) was reported to a Veterinary Officer or Veterinary Surgeon as soon as possible on the same day that the horse had blood at its nose he did fail to comply with his responsibilities under Instruction 8 (1) (i).

After having considered all the circumstances of this case, the Stewards believed the appropriate penalty was for Mr Yip to be fined a sum of $150,000.  Mr Yip was informed of his right of appeal against this decision.

Mr Chan was told that the Stewards would forward a report in respect of his actions on the relevant day to the Stables Department for consideration.