Banbury vet struck off (From Witney Gazette)

Banbury vet struck off

8:20am Thursday 1st February 2007 in Witney

A RACEHORSE vet from a Banbury practice, who has worked with some of the country's top trainers, has been thrown out of the profession for forging documents.

Dr John Walker, 60, who helped legend Jenny Pitman win the Grand National and the Gold Cup, made false entries about vaccinations in three horse 'passports'.

He told the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in London he had changed the dates on two sets of documents because he felt under pressure from Jockey Club rules.

Jenny Pitman said Walker helped her horse, Royal Athlete, win the Grand National in 1995, and also played a role in Willsford's victory in the Scottish National and Garrison Savannah's Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph.

"I've reflected over the last few days on how many winners I've trained with his help," said Pitman.

"Many of my horses were still winning big races at ages nine, ten and 11 because of him."

Brian Jennings, the chairman of the panel, said: "The committee has given careful consideration to the submissions made on Dr Walker's behalf, an oral statement given by Ms Pitman, who attributed a lot of her success as a trainer to his veterinary skill over many years.

"The committee regards false certification on two separate and similar occasions as being an extremely serious matter.

"The committee acknowledges in his favour the frankness of Dr Walker in his admission of the facts, but also took into consider- ation that he is well known in the racing world, holds a senior position in the association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons and ought to have known the significance of his actions.

"The committee has decided the only appropriate course is to instruct the registrar to remove his name from the register."

Walker, of Hook Norton Veterinary Surgeons, is eligible to apply to be restored to the register in ten months.

Jockey Club regulations require all racehorses to be vaccinated against equine influenza and to receive boosters at yearly intervals.

Walker changed the dates to make it appear as if the influenza and tetanus booster jabs for two horses had been administered when they were overdue.

The vet said: "I realised they were out of date, but due to the fact they had been regularly vaccinated I was content the horses' protection against both diseases hadn't been compromised.

"I now fully realise the error of my ways and I'm highly embarrassed that I allowed myself to be pressurised."

Equine were overdue for two of the horses, Moorlands Again and Six Clerks - geldings owned by William and Shaena Odell at their Little Tew farm, five miles from Walker's practice.

Vaccinations for Moorlands Again, had lapsed by 14 days and for Six Clerks by 11 days.

The third horse, Ryton Run, had retired from racing in 2000, but still required regular vaccination as it was stabled with racehorses.