Carter and trainer face serious charges

JOCKEY Gary Carter is to face serious charges over allegations that he rode as many as eight non-triers in a period of two months last year.

The Jockey Club confirmed yesterday that freelance rider Carter, 38, has been called to Portman Square as part of investigations into his alleged involvement with Christopher Coleman, the London-based tailor who was warned off for a minimum of two years in January 2003.

Also set to appear before the Jockey Club’s disciplinary panel are trainer Shaun Keightley and jockey Pat McCabe, who will face a hearing over the running of Red Lancer at Wolverhampton last October.

Again, Coleman is suspected to have been involved in the case in connection with bets laid on the horse on ‘win’ and ‘place’ markets on betting exchange Betfair.

The announcement that Carter, Keightley and McCabe will all face disciplinary proceedings brings long-running investigations involving the trio a step nearer to conclusion.

Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse confirmed that both hearings had come about “as a result of long and thorough investigations”.

But Carter said: “The charges are a real shock, and I categorically deny them all. I have done nothing wrong, yet my co-operation with the security department has now resulted in my name being publicised in a terribly damaging way.”