Four jockeys and trainer charged
Four jockeys, a trainer, one disqualified former owner and six unlicensed individuals have been informed by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority that they face various charges in relation to 40 races run between September 2004 and March 2005.
Shane Kelly, Josh Byrne, David Nolan and the currently-unlicensed Fran Ferris are the riders to have been charged, along with trainer Phil McEntee.
Ajaz Khan, charged in relation to all the races, was registered as a disqualified person with effect from July 13 of this year after he failed to supply telephone records in compliance with a production order issued by the HRA security department.
At present there is no date set for the substantive hearing but due to timetable scheduling set for other inquiries, the HRA does not anticipate it being before March 2007.
The charges include allegedly communicating to Khan, for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind, information that was not publicly available or provided for under Rules governing ‘inside information’, and also aiding and abetting the commission of a corrupt practice (laying the horses) by Khan.
When the hearing takes place, the disciplinary panel will also consider whether Mohammed Alyas, Sam Alyas, Greg Hedger, Mohammed Imtiaz, Abdul Khalique and Tanya McGregor-Read are liable for exclusion.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Kelly, who is recovering from a broken leg, said: “I stress these allegations are not related to race-fixing and I will do whatever I can to help the HRA in their investigation and, indeed, have fully assisted them ever since this blew up.
“I know how heavy the HRA punishments are for malpractice and perceived wrongdoing.
“I simply wouldn’t knowingly put myself in a situation where my livelihood was put in jeopardy. Not for any amount of money.
“This inquiry has been a weight on my shoulders for long enough. For more than 18 months it has been an absolute nightmare for my fiancé Hannah and myself.
“All I want to do is clear my name, return to full fitness and get back to doing what I love best – race-riding.”
