Sport dogged by allegations of corruption
In May, Jockey Club officials played down claims by Ladbrokes chief Chris Bell that at least one race a day in Britain is fixed.
A Jockey Club inquiry into disrepute charges against Kieren Fallon and John Egan is due to start this month, dating back to allegations brought by News of the World reporters in March.
In an article on March 7, described as the “sports scandal of the decade”, the paper alleged that Fallon told undercover journalists before a race at Lingfield that eventual winner Rye would beat his mount Ballinger Ridge.
Fallon was found guilty and served a 21-day suspension.
Further material was published in the newspaper on March 14 and a dossier was delivered to the Jockey Club.
Fallon and Egan were informed the following month by the Jockey Club that they would have to attend a hearing to establish whether they had acted in a manner prejudicial to the integrity and good reputation of horseracing in respect of their dealings with undercover reporters.
A charge of accepting money or benefit in kind for tips was dropped, but the pair are still due to face a charge of bringing racing into disrepute.
Both jockeys strenuously deny all the allegations.
Former jockey-turned-bloodstock agent Graham Bradley is waiting to hear the outcome of his High Court appeal against a five-year ban imposed after he gave evidence at a drugs trial.
Bradley, 44, claims the April 2003 disqualification order after proceedings before the Jockey Club’s disciplinary committee and appeal board is unlawful.
The order bans Bradley from entering any racecourse or premises owned, used or licensed by the club and from dealing in any capacity with a racehorse.
In September 2001 he gave evidence at the trial of a friend later acquitted of drugs charges.
During his evidence, Bradley stated he had received presents in the form of nights out and the occasional flight, and cash payments, from a man called Brian Wright in return for privileged racing information.
Freelance rider Gary Carter is facing Jockey Club charges over allegations that he rode as many as eight non-triers in a period of two months last year.
Also under Jockey Club investigation are trainer Shaun Keightley and jockey Pat McCabe who are facing a hearing over the running of Red Lancer at Wolverhampton last October.
Sean Fox is to appear before the Jockey Club disciplinary panel on September 10 to appeal against a 21-day ban for his ride on Ice Saint at Fontwell in March.
Local stewards found him guilty after they decided he intentionally stepped off the horse.
