'Dopers should get life' says trainer of nobbled favourite as two men are banned

Dopers should be banned from racing for life, David Easterby has said in the wake of a hearing on Thursday at which two men were given ten-year bans for nobbling Ladies First, a well-beaten 6-4 favourite at Newcastle in 2018.

The pair, named by the BHA as Neil Waggot and Stephen Walker, took no part in the hearing and their motivation for doping the filly was not explored but Easterby believes it may have been betting-related.

"I know the people that did it are very old and ten years is going to be a long time for them," he said. "But, bearing in mind the next people that are thinking about doping horses, the ban should have been for a lifetime, not for ten years."

The possibility that a significant portion of the story was missing from Thursday's hearing was raised when Louis Weston, the BHA's barrister, sought to explain the great lapse in time since Ladies First trailed home 22 lengths behind the winner and then tested positive for Timolol, a beta blocker.

"There were other matters and other considerations of a much broader nature that required a great deal of investigation before charges could properly be brought," Weston said.

7.50 Newcastle: full result and race replay

"In the end, it has not gone anywhere and these charges were brought reasonably shortly after that. There was an investigation, it did require a great deal of work. I can't reveal the contents of it and I'd invite you to take that on trust."

Weston apologised if the delay had caused "any upset" to Mick Easterby, David's father, who held the licence in his sole name at the time of the race. The two are now joint-trainers.

David Easterby: Ladies First 'went completely berserk' while at stud being prepared for career as broodmareCredit: Edward Whitaker

It has not previously been reported that Ladies First died in unexplained circumstances at the end of the following year, leaving connections to wonder whether the experience of being doped with a substance not intended for horses may have had some unknown, long-term effect. David Easterby said he had been told she "went completely berserk" while at a stud being prepared for a career as a broodmare.

Waggot and Walker were employed by Newcastle racecourse to work in the stable area, mucking out, requiring staff to sign stable cleanliness forms, conducting running repairs and other odd jobs.

Weston said CCTV footage showed they "approached Ladies First and they're seen between them, one to be lookout and one to be acting, to act in a very unusual way. Although they were employed by the course to carry out repairs and the like to the stables, they had no purpose in going to that horse.

"One reaches into his pocket and puts his hand towards the horse's head. We say in that action they were giving the horse Timolol, with the intention of doping the horse."

It appears the pair also doped another beaten favourite on the same day, as Weston said CCTV footage showed the men approaching Victoriano, who finished sixth in a maiden race. He was not tested on the day but a subsequent hair test showed traces of Timolol.

Solicitor Rory Mac Neice, representing the Easterbys, spoke of their concern about the security failures leading to the doping. He said Waggot had got the job via his friendship with the track's stable manager. Waggot then roped in Walker, who was taken on even though the stable manager did not know Walker's name but knew him only as 'Taff'.

Neither Waggot nor Walker were paid directly by the racecourse but were paid instead through the stable manager, which Mac Neice described as "a very odd arrangement".

"Mr Walker could have been anybody," the solicitor said. "The racecourse had no real idea who he was and yet the stable manager appears to have organised for him to have access to the most secure area on the racecourse.

Mick Easterby: the trainer 'had no control over who was allowed into the racecourse stabling area that day'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"There appears to have been no oversight here over these two. No one at the racecourse or at the BHA asked any questions of them. To gain access to Ladies First, all they had to was walk in and sign a register.

"This case identifies a very serious and very significant weakness in the protection offered to horses on the racecourse and that is a matter of very great concern to Mr Easterby."

Weston denied the BHA was to any extent responsible for the security breach, saying: "The BHA is not the employer here. Whilst I understand the concern, to suggest the BHA has to carry out background checks on everyone employed by every racecourse has obvious difficulties.

"Mr Waggot and Mr Walker had a role that allowed them to do tasks at the stables. It wasn't two punters off the street wandering in. It is a great shame and a great sadness that the human condition ends with some people abusing rights and the privileges they enjoy to do bad things. But that does not always mean that it is the BHA's fault and I'm not here to let it be pinned on the BHA that they are responsible for what Mr Waggot and Mr Walker did. They are not."

A spokesman for Newcastle's owner Arc said: "Newcastle racecourse takes all matters of security and integrity very seriously and meets all licensing requirements in that regard.

"Following this incident in 2018, the individuals concerned were removed from the racecourse as soon as their actions had come to light and the racecourse has provided all relevant information to the BHA, as and when requested.

"We look forward to seeing the written summary of the hearing, and will work with the relevant bodies to implement any amendments to security procedures that are deemed necessary."

It is believed the racecourse stable manager has also since quit his post, for personal reasons. The BHA has not taken any action against Newcastle.

That evidently jarred with Mac Neice, as he defended Mick Easterby against a charge that Ladies First had failed a dope test, for which a trainer was strictly liable under the rules at the time.

The rules have since been changed so that no charge would be issued against a trainer where some unconnected outsider was known to be responsible, but the 2018 rules made it mandatory for panels to impose a financial penalty, even though the BHA accepted that the Easterbys were entirely blameless.

"Mr Easterby had no control over who was allowed into the racecourse stabling area that day," Mac Neice said. "That control lies with the BHA and to a lesser extent the racecourse. And yet it is perhaps ironic that Mr Easterby is the one who is now appearing before you. There is a fundamental disconnect between the rules and the responsibility."

The panel decided it was obliged to penalise Easterby but fined him just one penny. Philip Curl, the panel chairman said: "We are sorry that the matter has taken as long as it has and at a time when he hasn't been enjoying the best of health. We wish him well for the future."

Read more from BHA inquiries:

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Four-month ban for box driver who drove into people and abused officials

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