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Trainer Jeff Pearce and jockey Jerry O’Dwyer charged along with six others, including former trainer Geoff Huffer.
Thanks Rory. Remember the uproar (and rightly so) that the ride created at the time. A shame the wheels of justice seem to move so slow.
Alleged no-triers. Alleged threats of violence. Racing being dragged through the mud again.
What sort of race was this? A big Saturday handicap? A pattern race? Oh silly me, Britain’s fastest growing race category…an all-weather claimer.
In another hearing Two Irishmen. Michael and Declan Phelan were both disqualified for 12 months, having breached rule 247, which prohibits lay bets being placed by owners. The case centred on betting on the filly Itsallracket (Ire) when she ran at Folkestone on 1st Dec 2008.
The filly was pulled up two furlongs out, pulled up by the jockey as ‘she’d lost her action on unsuitable ground’.
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Ignoring the ridiculous amount of time it has taken for charges to be brought by the BHA, does the incident not highlight the need for a central stewarding body to oversee meetings on a day-to-day basis?
From what I can glean from various websites and newspapers, Lingfield’s stewards were informed of the suspicious betting patterns yet, having reviewed O’Dwyer’s motionless ride, saw fit to take no action whatsoever.
Still, why bother focusing on matters such as these when Aidan O’Brien is ripe for an almighty £2.50 fine?
Alleged no-triers. Alleged threats of violence. Racing being dragged through the mud again.
What sort of race was this? A big Saturday handicap? A pattern race? Oh silly me, Britain’s fastest growing race category…an all-weather claimer.
Do you have a b-side or is it just a one track mind?
Ignoring the ridiculous amount of time it has taken for charges to be brought by the BHA, does the incident not highlight the need for a central stewarding body to oversee meetings on a day-to-day basis?
Paul Roy didn’t seem to think that was necessary when asked about it.
Ignoring the ridiculous amount of time it has taken for charges to be brought by the BHA, does the incident not highlight the need for a central stewarding body to oversee meetings on a day-to-day basis?
From what I can glean from various websites and newspapers, Lingfield’s stewards were informed of the suspicious betting patterns yet, having reviewed O’Dwyer’s motionless ride, saw fit to take no action whatsoever.
The Stewards held an enquiry into the running and riding of SABRE LIGHT, ridden by Jerry O’Dwyer and trained by J Pearce, which opened 7/2 second favourite and finished fifth, beaten five and three quarter lengths. The Stewards interviewed the rider and trainer.
The rider stated that his instructions were to sit mid division, get the gelding to travel and make the best way home. He also stated that he had to ride the gelding to get to post. He added that in the race he was struggling to lay up and kept niggling. On turning into the straight he found himself short of room with weakening horses in front and did his best to get SABRE LIGHT into a gap when it opened up. The trainer confirmed that those were his instructions, but added that he was disappointed by the gelding’s performance here today.
Having heard their evidence and reviewed video recordings of the race, and taking into account a report from the Veterinary Officer, and observations from the Handicapper the Stewards noted these explanations, and ordered SABRE LIGHT to be routine tested.
It may appear that the stewards at Lingfield did nothing, but the noting (rather than acceptance) of explanations shows that this was a case deliberately left open. It was hardly within their powers to warn Pearce and O’Dwyer off on the spot but by interviewing both they were able to start the process. I’m guessing that Jeff Pearce didn’t mention any threatening phone calls during the enquiry, for example.
Sobering to note that if these charges are proven this will be one of the nastiest recent examples of the type of practice that has now seen so many jockeys and trainers suspended or disqualified from the sport. It will also be an example of a very serious offence being under investigation at a time when the BHA assured us we were ‘through the woods’ as regards corruption with no major cases pending.
And yet it passes with relatively little comment and is relegated to a single column of the Racing Post’s front page.
Relegated it should be noted by a large piece debating the timing of the Derby. A debate that was prompted by viewing and turnover figures which suggest that racing’s popularity with punters and fans may be in decline. Strange that nobody at the BHA seems to be linking the two topics. Indeed Paul Roy assured me that our integrity was the best in the world, that we had no need for professional independent stewarding panels and that the levy could be restored by ‘plugging loopholes’. I wonder how many share his confidence?
Aha , some funny going’s on in Lingfield AW , imagine that !!!
I am surprised its only one investigation we know about , as that year there were loads of dodgy races if you watched them closely , in my opinion of course
Still they managed to turn me off flat racing forever which cannot be a bad thing , at least I dont have to suffer the mammoth 0/60 fest that maims our sport on a daily basis
Ricky
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