Burke and Williams back at work

Trainer Karl Burke and jockey Darren Williams went back to work and faced the media at Carlisle this afternoon, the day after their arrest and subsequent release on bail as part of a police investigation into alleged race-fixing.

Television companies were out in force, with crews from Border TV, Look North and Sky all present to see Burke and Williams team up with Chiselled in the opening Sands Maiden Auction Stakes.

But the 3-1 favourite could manage only second place for the in-the-news duo.

Looking tense, Williams was escorted to the paddock by two security men. He did not want to say anything and referred press inquiries to solicitor Andrew Chalk of Withy King, the firm representing both himself and fellow rider Fergal Lynch.

However, Burke was keen to stress that he was not guilty of any wrong-doing.

He said: “I’ve done nothing wrong, categorically nothing wrong. I’ve been questioned about a number of people, a list of about 20 people. Did I know them? What was my association with them?

“About five people on the list I knew. The rest, I didn’t have a clue who they were.

“The five I won’t name, but they are the obvious ones. We used to train for two of the people who were on the list. I no longer train for them.

“I can only sit and wait and go through the process.

“I haven’t been charged with anything. I’ve got to appear back on November 2 and hopefully that will conclude the matter.”

Burke and Williams were two of 16 people, including Lynch and six-times champion Kieren Fallon, detained yesterday after a dawn swoop co-ordinated by City Of London police on 19 addresses in Suffolk, Hertfordshire, and North and South Yorkshire.

Everyone arrested was later released on police bail. They will appear at a London police station on November 2.

Burke, 41, had not been at his stables at Spigot Lodge on the edge of Middleham Moor in North Yorkshire when the police arrived at 5am yesterday.

“It wasn’t a very nice experience, but it was worse for my family. I wasn’t at home,” he continued.

“It was my 20th wedding anniversary yesterday so I’d already planned a surprise meal for my wife (Elaine). We went to Ripon races and then on to the Crab And Lobster at Thirsk and stayed there, and then I was due to go to York yesterday.

“I always call in at 7.15am when I’m away from home and things were well under way by then.

“My eldest daughter, Kelly, took the brunt of it, but she coped very well.

“They said they had a warrant to search the house. They’ve taken both computers, phone book and mobile phone.”

With much of the investigation surrounding betting patterns, the Jockey Club has liaised throughout with the principal exchange firm, Betfair.

“I said to them (the police) I’ve never even looked at Betfair on the website. I’ve never been into that,” Burke added.

“I’ve nothing to hide and I’ll help the police as much as I can.”