Findlay considers quit threat as ban rescinded

Findlay, a former South Yorkshire greyhound owner, said that he was "considering his options" after the British Horseracing Authority revoked the ban and, instead, imposed a 4,500 fine.

Though he accepts that he backed his horse Gullible Gordon to lose on two occasions on the betting exchanges, a move that precipitated the inquiry, he had far more money waged on the horse winning the races in question.

The BHA admitted that it should have taken greater account of Findlay's "full co-operation" and how he drew their attention to the second race where he had flouted racing's rules.

"It is clear that Mr Findlay's best financial interests lay in the horse winning," it added.

Findlay said he would decide "in the next 24 hours" whether to uphold his threat to quit British racing altogether after the ban saw him deprived of a high-profile winner at Royal Ascot last month.

The two big losers in this case are the BHA and Gullible Gordon's trainer, Paul Nicholls.

The BHA face serious questions about their ability to uphold the integrity of the sport, admitting yesterday that Findlay should not have been banned last month.

Findlay also claims that he was told that he would receive "a slapped wrist" for a minor infringement of the rule book, hence his decision not to seek legal advice prior to the hearing. This week's appeal saw the gambler, whose horses run in his mother Maggie's name, accompanied by a leading sports law barrister.

Nicholls's perceived failure to support Findlay over the Gullible Gordon affair has seen the gambler remove around 10 horses from the yard, including Grand National fourth Big Fella Thanks who has been switched to Ferdy Murphy's West Witton yard.

Findlay, whose wife's family hails from Sheffield, also sold his share in chasing superstar Denman to Paul Barber, Nicholls's landlord and the co-owner of the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup victor.

"I'm over the moon," added Findlay. "It was impossible for the result to be any different and I am grateful to people, like Ferdy, for standing by me."

Tadcaster trainer Tom Tate has failed in his quest to overturn the result of York's John Smith's Cup after his Kings Gambit lost to Wigmore Hall by a short-head.