Williams reveals three-month ban

Darren Williams has revealed he has been suspended from riding for three months following a British Horseracing Authority inquiry.

The rider faced the disciplinary panel along with fellow jockey Fergal Lynch, trainer Karl Burke and former owner Miles Rodgers on Thursday in a hearing which was expected to last a week.

However, Williams admitted passing information for reward on five occasions and accepted that he had breached the rules in associating with a disqualified person in Rodgers.

Lynch, who now rides in America, is understood to have agreed to pay a record fine and not ride in Britain for 12 months after admitting a breach of the non-trier rule, six charges of passing information and betting on 15 races.

Williams was unimpressed with the BHA’s decision, however, and felt he had been subject to a heavier punishment.

“I don’t really want to get into a slanging match with the BHA,” he told the Racing Post.

“I just thought to suspend me for three months was very harsh when you look at what happened to Fergal Lynch, and you take into account what he actually admitted to and what submissions he made, and what they found with me and him.

“I thought it was very difficult to swallow to be honest.”

The results have yet to be confirmed by the BHA as the inquiry, which was sparked by a BBC Panorama programme, continues.

The hearing focuses on 12 races during a five-month period in 2004 and the operation of various betting accounts allegedly held by Rodgers.

All the horses concerned were ridden by Williams or Lynch while five were trained by Burke.