2005 Jockey Club Disciplinary and Security Intiatives

Published: 15 December 2004

 Independent lawyers appointed to Disciplinary Panel
 Extra resource recruited to assist management of cases
 Working Group assembled to review disciplinary process

The Jockey Club announced today that two independent legally qualified persons have been appointed to sit on its Disciplinary Panel. Timothy Charlton QC and Matthew Lohn, who both have extensive experience of regulatory law, will join the Panel in January 2005.

The Jockey Club also announced that they have recruited a legally trained ‘Case Manager’ to work in the Disciplinary Department to assist in handling cases which are due to come before the Panel. Meanwhile, the Deputy Senior Steward, Sir Michael Connell, is chairing a Working Group whose terms of reference are to make recommendations designed to improve the Club’s disciplinary process with regard to its efficiency, timing and ability to reach a conclusion.

Sir Michael Connell, the Deputy Senior Steward and a former High Court Judge, said: “Over the past year, probably as a result of more vigorous investigation and increased access to betting information, there has been an escalation in the number of high profile enquiries undertaken by the Security Department. Such investigations have had a significant impact on the workloads of all those involved with the disciplinary process, as well as resulting in increasingly complex disciplinary hearings.

Commenting on the new measures which will take effect from January, Sir Michael continued: “There is a growing trend for enquiries and appeals to involve discussions on complex legal arguments and the Disciplinary Panel will undoubtedly benefit from the addition of legal expertise. Meanwhile, the introduction of a legally trained Case Manager is intended to assist the Disciplinary Department in processing cases due to come before the Panel.”

“Against this background, it seemed that now is also a good time to review the whole system from the initial investigation through to the assessment of evidence collated and finally the enquiry and the decision. Therefore a working party has been set up which is looking at the whole process and is due to submit its recommendations to the Regulatory Board early next year.

Sir Michael concluded by saying: “These are challenging times for racing’s regulator, but there is a willingness and determination to adapt and evolve in order to meet the increasing demands placed upon us.”
December 15th 2005

Notes for Editors:

1. Timothy Charlton QC is a barrister based at Brick Court Chambers. He has been a Queen’s Counsel since 1993 and his areas of practice include Commercial Law, Banking and Arbitration. He has been a Practioner in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords and his fields of practice have included sports law, e.g cases concerning racing and football.

2. Matthew Lohn is a partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse and heads their Public and Regulatory Law Group. He advises Central Government, statutory and other public bodies on all aspects of their work. He has experience in sporting law, including presenting cases before the RFU Disciplinary Panel and sitting as an Independent Chairman hearing cases brought on behalf of the RFU by their Disciplinary Officer.

3. The Working Group under the Chairmanship of Sir Michael Connell is as follows:

o Sir Michael Connell (Deputy Senior Steward)
o Ben Gunn (Chairman of Security and Investigations Committee)
o Patrick Russell (Charles Russell Solicitors),
o Malcolm Wallace (Director of Regulation),
o Paul Scotney (Director of Security),
o Nigel Macfarlane (Secretary to the Disciplinary Panel),
o John Maxse (Public Relations Director).