ONE of the region’s most successful horse racing trainers could be banned from the sport for up to ten years after being charged with four breaches of animal welfare.

Howard Johnson, who lives near Crook, County Durham, has admitted that one horse in his care was “de-nerved” to prevent it feeling pain – an operation that he claims he was unaware was banned in the sport.

He is also charged with training three horses that had been given anabolic steroids.

The charges have been brought by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), and a hearing will be held in February.

If found guilty, he faces anything from a fine to a maximum ten-year ban from training racehorses.

All of the allegations involve horses owned by Graham Wylie, the Tyneside IT entrepreneur said to be the North-East’s first billionaire, who is Mr Johnson’s biggest owner.

Mr Wylie has about 100 horses in training with Mr Johnson, and the pair have enjoyed great success in the form of triple World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever, and 2008 Arkle winner Tidal Bay.

There is no suggestion Mr Wylie is connected with the charges in any way.

The horses involved are Striking Article, Whisky Magic, Mintaka Pass and Montoya’s Son.

The most serious charge against Mr Johnson is that Striking Article underwent a neurectomy.

The BHA claims the procedure was carried out in April 2008, and that the horse went on to run another eight times, winning three races.

Striking Article had to be destroyed at Musselburgh races in February last year and a subsequent post-mortem examination found the neurectomy had been carried out.

In a separate investigation, three other horses are alleged to have been given the banned steroid Laurabolin, which is said to promote appetite, strength gain, weight gain, and increases the number of red blood cells.

A provisional date of February 10 has been scheduled for the BHA’s disciplinary panel to consider the case.

The Northern Echo tried several times unsuccessfully to contact Mr Johnson.