Harry Findlay (right) reserved special thanks for Paul Barber (left)
PICTURE: Mark CranhamFindlay: I was confident of BHA appeal success
HARRY FINDLAY revealed on Thursday that he left Wednesday's BHA appeal hearing confident his ban would be overturned.
The professional gambler had been banned for six months after twice laying Gullible Gordon, a horse he part owns, to lose races, although he was a net backer - he had placed more money to win than to lose - on both occasions.
However, that ban was reduced to a fine of £4,500 after Wednesday's appeal.
In a statement released by his solicitor, Findlay said: "After two minutes of listening to Sir Roger Buckley (who chaired the appeal board), I knew that I was shorter than 1.01 to get the disqualification overturned.
"He was so impressive. He was flanked by two other panellists who, like him, obviously had a thorough knowledge of the case and this isall I wanted. After the undoubtedly toughest four weeks of my life, I very nearly actually smiled when he spoke of a 'gambler's instinct'. I knew then that he understood the case and, in my language, he was simply 'the governor'."
Denman: had been owned in partnership by Findlay and Barber
PICTURE: Mark CranhamFindlay thanked several of his supporters after winning his appeal, reserving special mention for the Sangster Family and Paul Barber, with whom he had owned Cheltenham Gold Cup and dual Hennessy Gold Cup winner Denman until recently.
"Special thanks go to Paul Barber, who never wavered," he said.
"The support of the Sangster family, who I have known for less than two years, has been incredible and, in Sam's case, at times inspiring."
Daryl Cowan, of DC Employment Solicitors, who represented Findlay for free, said: "Speaking for myself and Roderick Moore (the barrister who represented Findlay at the appeal hearing), we are delighted and, frankly, relieved both for Harry and for racing.
"As for Harry, there was no corruption, no intention to profit at the expense of others and he was entirely open about what he did.
"Many members of the public would be surprised to be toldthat what he did was against the rules.
"A disqualification was plainly wrong, and the appeal board, to their great credit, agreed.
"Harry's main concern throughout has been to clear his name. While most people within the racing industry recognised that Harry was in no way dishonest, he was distraught that the general public, who may have a lesser understanding of the way in which betting operates, might think of him as dishonest in some way.
Harry Findlay: described as the "heart and soul of the sport"
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker"He is very grateful to the appeal board for making it clear, in no uncertain terms, that this was not a case of corruption and that it felt justified '...in expressing [its] own clear view that Mr Findlay should not have been disqualified'.
"He also appreciates that the appeal board recognised that Harry suffered what it described as "the indignity" of disqualification for over a month.
"As for racing, a great result too. Characters like Harry are the heart and pulse of the sport and, without them, a very great deal of the fun and interest would simply not be there.
"We feel privileged to have helped him and wish him all the best.
"We would also like to record our thanks to Colin Brown, the former jump jockey who helped put Harry and Roderick in touch with each other, after he sat next to Roderick during a flight in June."
Read more fallout and reaction from Harry Findlay's successful appeal in Friday's Racing Post - or buy the paper online from 9am on Friday
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