CHARGES ISSUED OVER POINT-TO-POINT ‘RINGERS’

Published: Wednesday 11 Jul 2007

Following a Security Department investigation, charges have been issued against various people in relation to the alleged running of a ringer in two Point-to-Point races and an attempted running of a third in early 2006.

The matter came to the attention of the Stewards at Staintondale Point-to-Point after they were alerted that QUINTIN, a hunter owned by Robert Tierney and due to be ridden by Charles Gundry at the meeting, may not in fact be that horse. ‘QUINTIN’ was inspected by a Veterinary Surgeon at the course, could not be identified from its vaccination certificate and was therefore unable to run. The matter was referred back to the HRA by the Stewards for further investigation. The horse was later identified as MAX ‘N LIMBO (IRE). During the course of that investigation anonymous information was received that there had been two previous substitutions involving some of the same individuals.

There will be two separate inquiries: Races 1 and 2 below form the first and race 3 the second.

1. Open Maiden Race (Div 1) of the Old Raby Hunt Point-to-Point on 5th February 2006

Richard and Robert Tierney have both been charged with a breach of Regulation 161 (v) of the Regulations for Point-to-Point Steeplechases (“the Regulations”) for conspiring with each other to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing through the deliberate substitution and running of KING’S CREST for GREEN ADMIRAL in the above race and/or a breach of Regulation 170 (i) by aiding and abetting one another in the commission of the breach of Regulation 161 (v) as above.

2. Restricted Race at the Brocklesby Hunt Point-to-Point on 11th February 2006

Richard and Robert Tierney have both been charged with a breach of Regulation 161 (v) of the Regulations for conspiring with each other to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing through the deliberate substitution and running of KING’S CREST for GREEN ADMIRAL in the above race and/or a breach of Regulation 170 (i) by aiding and abetting one another in the commission of the breach of Regulation 161 (v) as above.

3. Gascoines Staintondale and Derwent Hunts Members’ Subscribers’ and Farmers’ race at the Staintondale Point-to-Point on 17th April 2006

(a) Charles Gundry, Robert Tierney, Ruth Marley and Roger Marley have all been charged with a breach of Regulation 161 (v) of the Regulations for conspiring with each other to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing through the deliberate substitution of MAX’N LIMBO (IRE) for QUINTIN in the above race and/or a breach of Regulation 170 (i) by aiding and abetting one another in the commission of the breach of Regulation 161 (v) as above.

(b) In relation to the investigation carried out into this race, Gundry, Roger Marley, Ruth Marley and Robert Tierney have also been charged with a breach of Regulation 170 (v) in relation to misleading HRA investigating officers at interview.

(c) Finally, Robert Tierney has been charged with a breach of Regulation 170 (iii) (acting in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain) over his threatening conduct towards a witness in the investigation after investigators had begun their enquiries.

A date for the inquiries has yet to be set.

11th July 2007

Notes for Editors:

1. The people involved in the two separate inquiries are as follows:

Richard Tierney – Point-to-Point rider

Robert Tierney – registered owner, father of the above

Charles Gundry – former Master of the Middleton Hunt, Point-to-Point rider

Roger Marley – Yorkshire horse dealer, registered owner, owner of MAX ‘N LIMBO (IRE)

Ruth Marley – wife of the above

2. Weatherbys Chase (Point-to-Point Form Book) comments:

for race 1 above:

GREEN ADMIRAL 12s to 2s [2-1 fav]; held up; went prom 6; led after 13; mist 3 out; cleverly (rdr looking over both shoulders flat & had plenty in hand)

for race 2 above:

GREEN ADMIRAL [10-11f] small neat; held up; headway 10; qcknd to ld 12; hdd 3 out; led app nxt; impressive (fin str without coming off bridle & would surely win if returned to Hurdling)

King’s Crest (GB) 1998 gelding – was trained most recently under Rules by John Quinn at Malton. At the time of the race above, it was not registered in training with Mr Quinn but returned to him in March 2006 running a few times on the Flat before winning at Cartmel on 20th July 2006. Mr Quinn faces no charges from the HRA in relation to this case. King’s Crest is recorded as dying in 2006.

Green Admiral (GB) 1999 gelding – Following the Point-to-Point race listed above, it ran under Rules in August 2006 at Market Rasen, owned by Robert Tierney, ridden by Richard Tierney and trained by Peter Niven. It went into that race as the 4/1 favourite after being recorded as a winner of a Point-to-Point race. At Market Rasen it suffered a fatal heart attack.

Mackenzie & Harris’ Hunter Chasers and Point-to-Pointers 2007 says the following of Green Admiral:

Beaten 19l in Hurdles, but despite a long absence had obviously been showing plenty of speed at home, and blitzed a Witton Castle Maiden after being hammered from 12s to 2-1 favourite. Again looked very quick in a Brocklesby Park Restricted just six days later and his impressive double suggested he would now be up to winning under Rules, but unfortunately suffered a fatal heart attack after finishing last at Market Rasen in August.

There are no specific penalties in relation to Point-to-Point offences which come before the Disciplinary Panel. The Panel will, though, have cognisance of the penalties under Rules which are: running a ringer: 15-25 years, entry point 20 years disqualify.