Royal trainer handed three-month ban

Henderson, one of the sport's leading figures, was found guilty at a British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) hearing last month of administering the prohibited anti-bleeding drug tranexamic acid to the mare Moonlit Path before she finished sixth in her debut race at Huntingdon in February.

Henderson had denied any wrongdoing over the rule dealing with administering or attempting to administer a positive substance.

He described the sentence as seeming "harsh" but accepted the findings and promised to try harder than ever to emulate last season's results when he won over 2 million pounds for his owners.

The Queen's racing advisor Michael Oswald said they were "disappointed" but would be reading the details of the BHA findings before any decisions were made.

Henderson, 58, has said all along that there had been no intention to enhance the performance of Moonlit Path who has run three times since her unsuccessful debut, finishing fourth twice and being pulled up on her most recent outing in May.

Under the ban, Henderson cannot make any entries for races from July 11 to October 10.

But because he was not disqualified by the disciplinary panel he can continue to employ his workforce and owners can keep their horses with him.

However, if they wish to run their horses during his suspension, they must be entered by and put into the care of another trainer.

EMBARRASSMENT FACTOR

Henderson began training in 1978 and is a four-time winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham where he has a particularly good record.

The Queen, a lifelong racing enthusiast, has 41 horses split between different trainers.

The jumps season is quiet at this time of year and Henderson has relatively few runners but as one of the sport's most established names, the embarrassment factor will likely be intensified through the royal connection.

The BHA said that in making its decision, its panel had taken into account various factors.

They included the fact the substance was administered by an experienced vet who Henderson considered as an advisor and also that the substance was unlikely to act as a performance enhancer.

It had also noted Henderson's contribution to the sport and his charitable activities.

The fine is double the previous record of 20,000 pounds handed to a trainer after Michael Wigham was penalised under the non-triers' rule last year.

HARSH SENTENCE

Henderson, who trains about 150 horses, said in a statement through the Press Association: "I am obviously hugely relieved that this saga has been concluded and, even though this seems a harsh sentence, we accept the findings and can now look forward again to the future and an exciting season ahead.

"Although the medication should not have been administered, I can only re-iterate, as the panel has accepted, that it was only given in the interest of the welfare of Moonlit Path herself."

In a statement issued through the At The Races TV channel, the Queen's jumps racing advisor Oswald, said: "We are disappointed. We will obviously discuss it but have not yet had the chance to do so.

"We need to read the findings and take them all in before any decisions are made."

Other horses trained by Henderson for the Queen include Barbers Shop who ran seventh in March's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

(Editing by Clare Fallon and Alison Wildey)