Winston suspended for a year
Fellow jockeys Robbie Fitzpatrick and Luke Fletcher were both hit with a three-year disqualification, while Fran Ferris was disqualified for two years.
Winston’s punishment means although he cannot ride for a year, he is still able to work in racing.
However, Fitzpatrick, Fletcher and Ferris are barred from entering licensed premises such as stables and racecourses during their period of disqualification.
Unlicensed individual Ian Nicholl was warned off indefinitely and is unable to reapply for 10 years.
Four other unlicensed individuals have also been warned off, with Paul Glendenning handed a three-year punishment, while Kim Evans, Joanne Roberts and Tegan Wilde will be unable to enter licensed horseracing premises for two years.
A statement issued on behalf of Winston by Christopher Stewart-Moore of Ralph Davis Solicitors read: “Robert Winston is shocked and disappointed by the panel’s finding that he was in breach of Rule 243 in giving information for reward.
“This disappointment is tempered to some degree by the panel finding that they accepted that it was no part of the information he gave that he would ride to lose if necessary, and their further finding that in no instance did he in fact ride to lose.
“The panel’s finding against Mr Winston is based on their ’inference’ that Mr Winston received a reward from Mr Nicholl for providing him with information. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Winston received no reward from Mr Nicholl - or anyone else for that matter – in relation to the information that he is alleged to have given.
“No physical evidence of a reward was put to the panel and no such evidence exists. Mr Winston never spoke to Mr Nicholl and was completely unaware of his existence at the relevant time.
“There are two further factors that militate against the likelihood of Mr Winston receiving a reward for the information he allegedly gave to Mr Nicholl.
“The first is the average starting price of the horses ridden by Mr Winston and laid by Mr Nicholl, which is in the region of 12-1.
“Information given to the effect that a horse at such a price was likely to lose would not on the face of it appear to have much, if any, intrinsic value - particularly as it was the case (as it was here) that the jockey would be doing his best.
“Secondly, Mr Nicholl actually made a loss laying Robert Winston’s rides, as is now revealed from the bookmakers’ accounts.
“One aspect of the judgement in which Mr Winston is particularly disappointed is the panel’s failure to take into account the fact that in relation to some of the horses laid by Mr Nicholl and ridden by Mr Winston there was no means of communication to Mr Nicholl.
“This fact entirely supported Mr Nicholl’s evidence that he often laid horses ridden by Mr Winston without any communication with Mr Fitzpatrick. The level of penalty imposed in the circumstances is extremely harsh.”
The investigation focussed on 37 races between June 16, 2003 and February 29, 2004, together with the associated betting activities.
The four jockeys were accused of providing information for reward, or passing information for reward that would subsequently be used for corrupt gain that otherwise was not in the public domain.
The charges related to 21 horses ridden by Winston, 11 ridden by Fletcher, four by Ferris and two by Fitzpatrick. Winston, Ferris and Fletcher were also alleged to have misled HRA security department investigators and provided them with inaccurate information. Fitzpatrick was charged with hindering or obstructing the investigation.
The disciplinary panel ruled that Fitzpatrick had broken Rule 243 by passing information for reward to Nicholl for one of his two rides – but not that of Sergeant Slipper at Southwell on April 29, 2004 – and that he was the go-between for all Ferris and Winston rides.
They also ruled that he had broken Rule 241 (i) (b) by hindering an investigation and Rule 220 (viii) by misleading investigators.
However, he was found not in breach of intentionally not riding a horse on its merits in the knowledge the horse had been laid to lose.
Winston was also exonerated on the latter matter, but the panel judged he had passed information for reward and misled an investigator.
The panel stressed that Winston’s case was the most difficult to resolve but his involvement was “of a less serious character than that of the other jockeys”.
This was due to the fact they decided Winston was supplying inside information to Nicholl via Fitzpatrick.
November 28, 1979
Freelance
Richard Fahey
1999
The Butterwick Kid, Nottingham, April 21, 1997.
Arcalis (John Smith’s Cup 2004), Bishops Court (Vodafone Dash Stakes 2001), Caribbean Coral (Vodafone ’Dash’ Stakes 2004), Further Outlook (Coral Eurobet Sprint Trophy 2000), Golden Nun (Ballyogan Stakes 2004), Magical Romance (Cheveley Park Stakes 2004), Masta Plasta (Norfolk Stakes 2005), Stream Of Gold (Lincoln Handicap 2005), Superior Premium (Stewards’ Cup 1998), Tam Lin (Glasgow Stakes 2006), Vita Spericolata (Queensferry Stakes 2002), Young Mick (Cumberland Lodge Stakes 2006).
Suffered a season-ending injury when leading the 2005 jockeys’ championship. Winston was sidelined for approximately four months with a broken jaw after his mount Pearl’s A Singer slipped up on the bend at Ayr on August 6, 2005.
He was suspended for 28 days when the Carlisle stewards found him guilty of dropping his hands aboard the Alan Swinbank-trained Confide, who finished second in the Border Construction Handicap on June 19, 2006.
