Race-fixing inquiry says 11-strong group broke its rules

Greg Fairley, Paul Doe, Kirsty Milczarek and Jimmy Quinn were among 11 people found to have breached rules following a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) inquiry into race-fixing and irregular betting.

Police have been told of the outcome of the 11-day hearing, which focused on horses being laid to lose on betting exchanges in 10 races, including one at Catterick, between January and August 2009.

The bets were made by members of a conspiracy, orchestrated by racehorse owners Maurice Sines and James Crickmore, in which gamblers would receive inside information from jockeys.

Fairley and Doe, who were disqualified for 12 years and have given up the sport, were found guilty of deliberately ensuring horses did not run on their merits. Formerly of West Witton, North Yorkshire, Fairley was champion apprentice in 2007 and rode 231 winners for Classic-winning Middleham trainer Mark Johnston.

Quinn and Milczarek, who intends to appeal, were disqualified for six months and two years respectively after being found guilty of other corruption charges.

The BHA’s director of integrity services, compliance and licensing, Paul Scotney, said the scale of the case was “unprecedented” and police and the Gambling Commission had been kept informed throughout.