British Horseracing Authority questions businessmen in corruption inquiry
Investigators from the British Horseracing Authority’s integrity unit are understood to have questioned two businessmen with racing interests about their suspected involvement in alleged corruption in the sport.
Odds against: the BHA investigation into corruption comes at a bad time for racing, with the sport trying to raise its profile Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Paul Kelso, Chief Sports Reporter 10:30PM BST 18 Apr 2011
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The businessmen, both of whom have been registered owners, are suspected of co-ordinating the manipulation of races by compliant jockeys, and could face disciplinary proceedings under the rules of racing.
A number of jockeys have also been interviewed about their alleged involvement following one of the largest and most significant investigations ever undertaken by the BHA.
The governing body is understood to believe that it has uncovered evidence of systematic fixing in which horses were deliberately ‘stopped’ by jockeys to enable punters to cash in by ‘laying’ the horses to lose on betting exchanges.
If jockeys or owners are found to have breached racing regulations they could be banned or ‘warned off’ from the sport from between eight years, the new minimum standard for deliberately losing a race to allow someone to profit, and life.
Owners can also be warned off for indefinite periods if they are found to have breached regulations.
The Daily Telegraph understands that the businessmen under investigation are thought to be long-term associates based in the south-east of England and are listed as directors of numerous companies. It is unclear if the investigation relates to the running of any of their own horses.
The men are at the centre of a long investigation into the alleged fixing of Flat races. The probe is thought to have examined races going back several years.
Under BHA regulations the investigators have the power to view jockeys’ telephone records and it is likely that those of all the riders under investigation will have been examined.
The findings of the BHA case are now being examined by the governing body’s lawyers, and a decision on which charges will be brought and against whom will be made within a matter of weeks.
If charges are levelled the case is likely to highlight the challenge the sport faces in bringing complex prosecutions without the support of law enforcement agencies and statutory powers such as the Gambling Commission and the police.
Gambling-related corruption is not high on the lists of police priorities and there is nervousness in law enforcement circles about racing cases following the collapse of the Kieran Fallon trial in 2007.
Fallon and seven others were charged with conspiracy to defraud but the case collapsed and the accused were acquitted following evidence from the prosecution’s leading expert witness. The case demonstrated the difficulty of demonstrating that horses were deliberately ridden to lose.
The case comes as Flat racing prepares for the launch of the Champions Series, an initiative intended to raise the profile of the sport and reach a new audience.
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