The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has found four jockeys – and a number of others – guilty of corruption at a hearing, the results of which were published on Wednesday 14th December 2011.
Jockeys Jimmy Quinn, Greg Fairley, Kirsty Milczarek, and Paul Doe were all found to be in breach of the rules of racing, along with eight other individuals.
Former jockey Paul Fitzsimons, who is now a trainer, was found not guilty.
The charges relate to 10 races which took place between January 17th and August 15th 2009.
Paul Doe and Greg Fairly were found guilty of the most serious breaches of BHA rules, and were the only two jockeys found guilty of deliberately ensuring horses did not run on their merits.
According to a report issued by the BHA:
“[Jimmy] Quinn and [Kirsty] Milczarek were found in breach of the old Rule 201 (v) ‘Guilty of or conspires with any other person for the commission of, or connives at any other person being guilty of, any corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing in this or any other country’.
Milczarek was also found in breach of former Rule 243 ‘Passing information for reward’.
[Paul] Doe was found in breach of former Rule 201 (v) and Rule 243, and two counts of former Rule 157 ‘Where, in the opinion of the Stewards or the BHA, a Rider has intentionally failed to ensure that his horse is run on its merits the Rider shall be deemed in breach of this Rule and guilty of an offence’.
[Greg] Fairley was found in breach of the old Rule 201 (v) and Rule 243, and one count of former Rule 157.
The BHA disciplinary panel found registered owners Maurice Sines and James Crickmore in breach of former Rule 201 (v) and also Rule 247 – laying a horse they owned on a betting exchange. Five other individuals – Nick Gold, Peter Gold, Shaun Harris, David Kendrick and Liam Vasey – were found in breach of former Rule 201 (v).
Darren May was found not in breach of any rules.”
It remains to be seen what punishment will be handed down to those concerned, though Fairley and Doe could be banned from riding under rules for as many as 25 years each for their offences – with a minimum ban of 5 years.
It is understood that a number of those concerned are planning to appeal this decision.