Cheng granted licence with strings attached after Haggas backs disgraced jockey

William Haggas hopes to find opportunities before long for jockey Howard Cheng, who left Hong Kong in disgrace but has been granted a riding licence by the BHA under strict conditions after appearing to have turned his life around.

Cheng, 38, was a champion apprentice in Hong Kong in 2000-2001 and rode 436 winners there, as well as two each in Macau and Australia. However, he had a poor disciplinary record and was found guilty of a number of running and riding offences among 232 appearances before the Hong Kong stewards.

The most recent of them resulted in a 25-fixture suspension in October 2016, in addition to which he was given a six-month ban for failing to cooperate with enquiries by providing financial and telephone records, and a further two-month ban for breaching insider information rules. He has not ridden competitively since, and has been living in Newmarket and working for Haggas for two years.

Haggas said: "When ex-jockeys fall by the wayside they can be surly and turn to refreshment, but not him. He's never late and he's been a model pupil. He's fit and he's tough, and although I've got a few mouths to feed he rides very well and I hope to find him opportunities."

He added: "When he asked me if I would support his application I was more than happy to do so because I felt he deserved a second chance. He's a very nice guy and he's never put a foot wrong since he arrived here. He's just put his head down and got stuck in, working very hard.

"Unfortunately in the summer he smashed his leg in a very nasty riding accident and so he's been off for quite a while, but he's back riding work now."

When Cheng initially applied to the BHA for a licence in 2018 he was rejected because he was not considered a suitable person. He also answered 'no' when asked on the application form if had ever had his licence suspended, although it was later accepted that this was owing to a misunderstanding.

Licence applications which are refused in such circumstances are automatically referred to the independent licensing committee, and a licence was granted under strict conditions at the end of July following further submissions from both sides, with "considerable weight" having been given to communications from Haggas detailing his exemplary attitude and behaviour since arriving in Newmarket.

The licence will be reviewed after 12 months, and Cheng has had to agree to particularly strict conditions with regard to his use of his telephone, and also access to his banking records. Cheng, who insisted he had "put any bad habits behind him", must also ensure through his agent that trainers and owners he might ride for are aware of his history.

A spokesman for the BHA said: "Following consideration of his application, the BHA wrote to Mr Cheng to inform him that we were minded to refuse due to concerns regarding his suitability to hold a licence. Where the BHA is minded to refuse an application on this ground, it is automatically referred to the licensing committee. The licensing committee forms part of the sport’s judicial panel and allows for independent assessment and ruling on disputed licensing applications.

"Following a hearing and submissions from both parties the independent licensing committee determined that Mr Cheng has demonstrated that he is a ‘suitable’ person to hold a jockey’s licence, subject to a number of conditions."

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