A NSW trainer has been suspended for four months for failing to remove a tongue tie from a horse in their care which resulted in the horse having to have part of the tongue surgically removed.
Trainer Steven Phelps was suspended for four months after failing to remove the rubber band tongue tie on My Cousin James after the horse conducted track work.
Racing NSW Stewards have concluded an inquiry opened on Friday, 14 May 2021 into the circumstances surrounding an injury to, and the eventual removal of, part of the tongue of the racehorse My Cousin James.
Evidence was taken from licensed trainers Mr S. Phelps and Mr D. Chujo, licensed stablehand Mr B. Kliese, veterinary permit holder Dr S. McColgan and veterinarian Dr M. Markwell of WestVETS Equine Hospital.
Racing NSW General Manager – Veterinary Services, Dr Toby Koenig assisted the inquiry.
Stewards established that on the morning of Thursday 1 April 2021, Mr Phelps did apply an approved rubber band tongue tie to My Cousin James prior to that gelding commencing track work and unintentionally failed to remove such tongue tie as soon as practicable after the gelding finished track work resulting in its remaining on the gelding until that afternoon when it was identified. The consequence of which was that My Cousin James lost vascular supply to part of its tongue, resulting in it becoming necrotic and having to be surgically removed.
