Jockeys charged in horse racing corruption case

Jockeys Greg Fairley, Paul Doe, Kirsty Milczarek and Jimmy Quinn along with former rider Paul Fitzsimons have been charged with “conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice” following a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) investigation into suspicious betting on races.

They are accused of “intentionally failing to ensure that their horse was run on its merits” and are alleged to have liaised with betting exchange account holders, offering information about horses for gain.

Registered owners Maurice Sines and James Crickmore have also been charged by the BHA, together with six other men – Peter Gold, Nick Gold, Shaun Harris, David Kendrick, Darren May and Liam Vasey.

The allegations focus on horses being laid to lose on betting exchanges in 10 races, including one at Catterick, between January 17 and August 15, 2009.

All 13 individuals are to attend an independent disciplinary hearing in October, scheduled to last 10 days. The jockeys face being banned for up to 25 years if they are found guilty.

The case is likely to evoke memories of a £10m criminal trial which collapsed at the Old Bailey in 2007, after which champion jockey Kieren Fallon and two Yorkshire-based riders, Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, were cleared of race-fixing allegations.

Fairley, who faces charges in relation to four races, has almost 400 winners to his name. He was Champion Apprentice in 2007 and is widely regarded as one of the sport’s brightest prospects.

Based in West Witton, North Yorkshire, he rides frequently for Middleham-based trainer Mark Johnston, who has saddled horses including Classic winners Attraction and Mister Baileys.

Fairley’s legal representative, Ken Stenger, said: “Greg has given the BHA his full co-operation during this inquiry and is deeply upset that he is now being charged with alleged breaches of the rules of racing. The allegations are vehemently denied and Greg, together with his legal team, will now focus upon clearing his name at the independent disciplinary panel hearing in October.”

Two of the other jockeys under suspicion were in action at Yarmouth yesterday. Quinn came second last on 100-1 outsider Grayfriars in the 2.20pm, and Milczarek finished last on 25-1 hope Tumbleowtashoes in the 2.50pm.

Milczarek’s charges relate to her fifth-placed finish aboard the even-money favourite Obe Gold at Lingfield on August 15, 2009. Fairley had ridden the horse the previous day.

Milczarek’s representative, Christopher Stewart-Moore, said: “She is stunned by this development. She has been fully co-operative with the BHA investigations.

“There was no stewards’ inquiry into her ride on the day.”

Mr Stewart-Moore said Milczarek suffered a chest injury when Obe Gold left the starting stalls at Lingfield and she knew “nothing about any laying” of the horse.

“She has provided the BHA with all her telephone records and there are no telephone calls between her and any of the named layers,” he added.

“In short there is no evidence to support the BHA’s charge for the very simple reason that she has done nothing wrong.”

Fitzsimons, now a licensed trainer, said he was “shocked” at the charges but “pretty confident” that his name would be cleared.

He and Quinn will be represented by Andrew Chalk, of Withy King solicitors. Mr Chalk said Quinn would do “everything in his power to clear his name”.

The BHA’s acting chief executive, Chris Brand, said: “Racegoers and punters should be reassured that the overwhelming majority of races are free of suspicion and are we are committed to deterring and detecting wrongdoing and taking action when we believe there is evidence of it.”