Jockeys (from left to right) Paul Doe, Kirsty Milczarek, Greg Fairley and Jimmy Quinn have been charged with serious breaches of racing's rules

  PICTURE: Various  

Jockeys named in corruption charges case

JOCKEYS Paul Doe, Greg Fairley, Kirsty Milczarek, Jimmy Quinn and former rider Paul Fitzsimons, who is now a trainer, have been charged by the BHA with serious breaches of the rules of racing, including deliberately not riding a horse to obtain the best possible placing.

The charges focus on horses being laid to lose on betting exchanges in ten races that took place between January 17, 2009 and August 15, 2009.

Licensed owners Maurice Sines and James Crickmore have also been charged, as have six other unlicensed individuals Peter Gold, Nick Gold, Shaun Harris, David Kendrick, Darren May and Liam Vasey.

All 13 individuals have been charged with a breach of rule (A)41 in that it is alleged they conspired to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice. The penalty guideline for that is six months to ten years disqualification, with an entry point of three years.

Paul Fitzsimons: former jockey has also been charged by BHA

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham   

Each of the jockeys have additionally been charged with a breach of rule (A)36 in that it is alleged they communicated directly or indirectly to one or more betting-exchange account holders, for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind. They could face a suspension ranging between 18 months to five years. This offence carries an entry point of three years.

The most serious offence the riders have been charged with is a breach of rule (B)59.2 - deliberately not riding a horse to obtain the best possible placing for personal reward or knowing it has been laid to lose. If found guilty they could be disqualified for 25 years, with the minimum ban being five years.

An independent disciplinary panel hearing has been set for October 20, 2011 and is scheduled to last ten days. All four jockeys will be able to continue to ride until the hearing.

In a statement released on Friday, the BHA's acting chief executive Chris Brand said: "The charges issued by the authority today are the result of a lengthy, detailed and complex investigation, following suspicious betting activity on more thanone betting exchange and with traditional bookmakers.

"It is of course of utmost importance that those charged are given a fair hearing and the opportunity to defend themselves and we will therefore make no further comment on thedetails of this case at this stage."

Chris Brand: issued reassurance

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker  

Brand added: "Racegoers and punters should bereassured that the overwhelming majority of races are free of suspicion and we are committed to deterring and detecting wrongdoing and taking action when we believe there is evidence of it."

A statement from the Professional Jockeys' Association read: "The PJA said that they were aware of the ongoing BHA investigations relating to these jockeys, but were only informed recently that charges were imminent.

"The PJA has now recommended that the jockeys in question seek legal representation. The PJA stressed that on any issues concerning integrity, which is vital to the sport of horseracing, it will continue to support the BHA in carrying out that function.

"Until this case is concluded,  the PJA, as the trade body for jockeys, will continue to offer advice and support to the jockeys should they seek it."

Milczarek's charges relate to her ride aboard Obe Gold at Lingfield on August 15, 2009 when she finished fifth on the even-money favourite in a 6f seller.

One of the races over which Fairley has been charged relates to Obe Gold's performance when he finished third in a claimer at Catterick the previous day.

Milczarek's solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said the jockey was "stunned" after learning of the charges.

Stewart-Moore said in a statement: "Kirsty Milczarek has been informed today that she has been charged with breaches of the rules of racing relating to one ride on a horse at Lingfield back in August of 2009 called Obe Gold.

"She is stunned by this development. She has been fully co-operative with the BHA investigations.There was no stewards' inquiry into her ride on the day."

Stewart-Moore claimed that Milczarek had picked up an injury after Obe Gold left the starting stalls awkwardly at Lingfield, something the horse had done the day before at Catterick.

The statement continued: "On this occasion his antics on exiting from the stalls caused Kirsty to hit the upright of the starting stall, causing her a very painful injury evidenced by bruising across her chest which was observed by boththe racecourse doctor on the day and the physio at Newbury the next day.

"She knows absolutely nothing about any laying of this horse other than what she has been told by BHA investigators and of the eight non-licensed people, she knows only two of them as nodding acquaintances and has never spoken to them privately.

"She has provided the BHA with all her telephone records and there are no telephone calls between her and any of the named layers.

"In short there is no evidence to support the BHA's charge for the very simple reason that she has done nothing wrong."

The BHA underlined that Sam Hitchcott, the rider of Sherjawy in one of the races involved in the case, has not been charged with any breaches of the rules of racing and there is no evidence of any involvement by him.

Eight races in which it is alleged jockeys intentionally failed to ensure that their horse ran on its merits (rule (B)59.2):

Two other races - the 5.30 at Wolverhampton on February 7 and the 6.50 at Kempton on April 8 - are also being investigated by the BHA in relation to jockeys allegedly communicating information for reward.

The BHA underlined that Sam Hitchcott, the rider of Sherjawy in one of the races involved in the case, has not been charged with any breaches of the rules of racing and there is no evidence of any involvement by him.