FORMER BOOKMAKER OWEN CHURCHILL AND JOCKEYS DEAN WILLIAMS AND BRIAN REILLY CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH TEN RACES

Published: Monday 12 Jun 2006

FORMER BOOKMAKER OWEN CHURCHILL AND JOCKEYS DEAN WILLIAMS AND BRIAN REILLY CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH TEN RACES

Following a Security Department investigation, former bookmaker Owen Churchill and licensed jockeys Brian Reilly and Dean Williams have been informed that they face various charges in relation to the running of 10 horses in races that took place between December 2004 and February 2005.

The relevant races (and riders) are:

KNEAD THE DOUGH – Dean Williams – Southwell 21st December 2004
EVER CHEERFUL – Dean Williams – Lingfield 30th December 2004
SOVIET SCEPTRE (IRE) – Dean Williams – Lingfield 15th January 2005
SHIFTY NIGHT (IRE) – Brian Reilly – Southwell 18th January 2005
THREE SHIPS – Brian Reilly – Wolverhampton 21st January 2005
AMANDA’S LAD (IRE) – Brian Reilly – Southwell 25th January 2005
MARON – Dean Williams – Wolverhampton 7th February 2005
PIROUETTES (IRE) – Brian Reilly – Wolverhampton 7th February 2005
FIZZY LADY – Brian Reilly – Wolverhampton 11th February 2005
CILS – Brian Reilly – Wolverhampton 11th February 2005

The Disciplinary Panel enquiry will seek to establish whether or not, in relation to each of the above races, Owen Churchill acted in breach of:

• Rule 201(v) of the Orders and Rules of Racing, by committing a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing in Great Britain by laying the horses to lose, having received information that was not publicly available or not otherwise provided for in Appendix N to the Orders and Rules of Racing; and/or

• Rule 220(ix), by causing Brian Reilly and Dean Williams, licensed jockeys, to act in breach Rule 243 by communicating to Owen Churchill, for a material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind, information about the horses which was not publicly available and was not provided for in Appendix N of these Orders and Rules.

Additionally, Churchill has been charged with a breach of:

• Rule 220(viii), by deliberately misleading or, by an overt act, endeavouring to mislead a Jockey Club Investigating Officer by providing inaccurate and incomplete answers in the course of an interview conducted on 7 June 2005; and

• Rule 241(i)(b) by subsequently refusing or otherwise failing to comply with requests to meet with Investigating Officers or to provide to them information relevant to the investigation into his laying of all ten horses.

The Disciplinary Panel Enquiry will also seek to establish, in respect of each of their respective rides above, whether or not Brian Reilly and Dean Williams are in breach of:

• Rule 243, by communicating directly or indirectly to Owen Churchill for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind, information about the horses that was not publicly available or not otherwise provided for in Appendix N to the Orders and Rules of Racing; and/or

• Rule 220(i), by aiding or abetting the commission, by Owen Churchill, of a breach of Rule 201(v) of the Rules (namely the commission by Churchill of a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing by laying the horses to lose having received information that was not publicly available or not otherwise provided for in Appendix N to the Rules) by providing such information to Churchill, either knowing that such information would be used for such purpose by Churchill or being reckless as to the purpose for which such information would be used by Churchill or otherwise.

Additionally, both Reilly and Williams have been charged with a breach of:

• Rule 220(viii), by misleading or, by an overt act, endeavouring to mislead a Jockey Club Investigating Officer by providing inaccurate and incomplete answers in the course of the investigations into the running and riding of the horses, and into the communications between themselves and Mr Churchill that occurred on or prior to those dates in relation to those horses.

In addition to these charges, the Disciplinary Panel will also consider whether:

• In relation to his rides on SHIFTY NIGHT (IRE), THREE SHIPS and PIROUETTES, Brian Reilly acted in breach of either Rule 157 or 158 by failing, either with or without intention thereof, to ensure that these horses ran on their merits; and

• In relation to his ride on EVER CHEERFUL, Dean Williams acted in breach of either Rule 157 or 158 by failing, either with or without intention thereof, to ensure that this horse was run on its merits.

A Directions Hearing is due to be held at Shaftesbury Avenue on Thursday 29th June, at which time it is hoped a date will be set for the substantive enquiry.

Monday 12th June 2006

Notes for Editors:

1. The Rules in question are:
201 (v) – commission of a corrupt practice
243 – communicating information for reward
220 (i) – aiding or abetting a breach of the Rules
157 and 158 – horses running on their merits
220 (viii) – misleading a Jockey Club Official
241 (i) (b) – hindering an investigation
220 (ix) – causing jockeys to be in breach of Rules 243-7