Horse Trainer Claims Billionaire Offered Bribe Over Doping Scandal

A horse trainer has accused billionaire stud owner Luke Comer of attempting to bribe him to take the blame for doping violations involving some of his horses. Jim Gorman, who served as Comer’s training manager at Brookville Racing Ltd for six years, made these allegations in High Court proceedings, where he seeks clarity on defamatory claims made against him.

Gorman’s legal actions follow the discovery of banned substances in horses associated with Brookville. He asserts that Comer offered him a deal to “accept the rap” for the positive tests, which he categorically denies. According to Gorman, a representative of John Magnier, owner of Coolmore Stud, has also rejected allegations of any financial dealings related to this incident.

The letter from Magnier’s legal team emphasized that they had no involvement in a “supposed plot” to administer prohibited substances to Comer’s horses. It also stated that Magnier informed Comer in April and June of the previous year that Coolmore would never engage in such activities and suggested that Comer report his concerns to the Garda.

In a recent court session, Eugene Gleeson SC, representing Gorman, received permission to serve notice of the legal proceedings to Comer and his affiliated training firms, including Seattle Slew Ltd. The case is scheduled to return to court in two weeks, as Mr Justice Brian Cregan noted the importance of addressing these allegations promptly.

Gorman, who resides at Coburg Lodge in Maddenstown, Co Kildare, is seeking an order for the disclosure of information regarding a senior executive at Coolmore. This executive allegedly claimed that Gorman received substantial payments from Coolmore and was involved in administering drugs to Comer’s horses. Gorman aims to pursue legal action against this individual for what he describes as serious defamation.

He was employed by Brookville in 2018 due to significant animal welfare concerns raised by the Irish horse racing authority. As part of the ongoing scandal, Gorman received a letter from the defendants’ solicitors stating that horses he managed had tested positive for banned androgenic anabolic steroids in October and November 2021. The correspondence clarified that Comer did not authorize or direct these actions.

An appeals board reviewed Comer’s case, which included sanctions imposed by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board. They could not determine how the horses tested positive but ultimately found Comer guilty of failing to prove that the substances were the result of environmental contamination. Consequently, the board imposed a three-year ban alongside substantial fines and legal costs.

Gorman noted that in October 2024, Comer expressed suspicions regarding his involvement in the positive tests, which Gorman firmly denied. He described a conversation with Comer where he was allegedly asked to take responsibility for administering the banned substances. Gorman claims that Comer proposed a bribe, offering a small yard for him to train horses in exchange for his silence.

Gorman, who comes from a long line of trainers, stated that accepting such a proposition would tarnish his family’s reputation. His solicitor has attempted multiple times to obtain information from the defendants, who have not complied, indicating their involvement in the defamatory statements attributed to the Coolmore executive.

As this case unfolds in the High Court, the implications for all parties involved could be substantial, not only affecting their reputations but also the integrity of the horse racing industry in Ireland and beyond.