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Ex-Grand National Winner Banned 8 Years for Cruelty
30 Sep
Summary
- Maurice Barnes banned for eight years from racing.
- He deprived a horse of water before a race.
- Diluted bleach was used to treat wounds on horses.
A disciplinary panel has recommended that former Grand National-winning jockey Maurice Barnes faces an RSPCA investigation for potential animal welfare offenses. Barnes, who rode the first Scottish-trained horse to win the Grand National, has been banned from racing for eight years.
Investigators found that Barnes, a trainer for 36 years, deprived a horse of water before a race and used diluted bleach to treat wounds. These practices fell below expected standards of care for horses in his training yard.
Further charges included using a yard broom for grooming, which could cause fear and distress, and using a motorized Gator vehicle to intimidate reluctant horses onto the gallops. On one occasion, a rider fell and broke her collarbone due to this intimidation.
Barnes accepted many of the 10 charges, seven of which related to horse welfare over a five-year period ending in 2024. He agreed to a £5,000 fine and an eight-year restriction on working in racing, preventing him from reapplying for a training license. His representative stated his methods were "old-fashioned" but denied deliberate neglect.
