Nicky Henderson banned for three months over doping of Queen's horse Moonlit Path

Trainer Nicky Henderson has been fined £40,000 and banned for three months after being found guilty by the British Horseracing Authority of deliberately administering a prohibited substance to enhance the performance of Moonlit Path, the horse owned by the Queen.

Henderson was found guilty of the offence by the BHA disciplinary committee last week but learned today of his punishment, which prevents him from making race entries for three months.

Moonlit Path, owned by the Queen, tested positive to a prohibited anti-bleeding drug at Huntingdon in February but the intiial hearing in front of the BHA’s disciplinary committee could not be concluded within the allotted time and was adjourned with the committee wanting more time to "consider a suitable penalty for what they considered a serious breach of the rules."

The case is one of the highest profile of its kind for some time given that Henderson is one of the most prominent and respected figures in National Hunt racing and it has been given extra prominence because the horse in question is owned by the Queen.

The mare tested positive to tranexamic acid after finishing a 25-length sixth in a mares’ hurdle on her debut in a race which was won by her stable companion Ravello Bay. Moonlit Path has run several times since without success. The drug is given to humans, under the name Cyklokapron, to treat or prevent bleeding and in some American states is a permitted raceday medication for bleeders much like Lasix.

Henderson admitted giving Moonlit Path a prohibited substance, giving it on the day of the race and not putting it in the horse’s medication records but he denied the most serious charge of breaking Rule 200, that he deliberately gave the drug in order to improve Moonlit Path’s racing performance. After much legal argument the committee found him guilty of breaching Rule 200.

Henderson has just enjoyed his best season with 115 jump winners, including the Champion Hurdle with Punjabi, and earned £2.12 million in prize-money for 2008-09, a figure bettered only by Paul Nicholls. The trainer was not present to see his first 2009 Royal Ascot winner when the 12-year-old Caracciola won the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

In the past the biggest fine given out for a similar breach was the £17,500 given to David Elsworth in 1988 after Cavvies Clown tested positive to a prohibitive substance. However, the last two trainers to be found in breach of Rule 200, Matt Gingell and David Flood, were both banned for two years.