Following an investigation into suspicious betting activity on a number of races, the British Horseracing Authority has charged nine individuals with serious breaches of the Rules of Racing. The allegations focus on horses being laid to lose on betting exchanges in races that took place between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011.
Former licensed jockey Andrew Heffernan (who is currently licensed to ride in Australia) and eight unlicensed individuals (Rocky Michael Chopra, James Coppinger, Paul Garner, Kelly Inglis, Yogesh Joshee, Douglas Shelley, Pravin Shingadia and Mark Wilson) have all been charged with a breach of Rule (A)41.2 of the Rules of Racing in that they conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by:
- In the case of Heffernan, communicating directly or indirectly to one or more Betting Exchange account holders information relating to the prospects in the race of that horse
- In the case of the unlicensed individuals by placing bets and/or causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to to place bets on the horse Andrew Heffernan rode in the race using information they had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse.
Andrew Heffernan is also charged with breaches of:
- Rule (A)36.1 in that he communicated directly or indirectly to one or more account holders on betting exchanges, for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind, information relating to the prospects of his rides, which was or included Inside Information knowing, such information was Inside Information
- Rule (A)33.4 in that he offered to receive or receive a bribe
- Rule (B)59.2 in that he intentionally failed to ensure that a horse ridden by him was run on its merits (Wanchai Whisper, Gallantry, and/or Silver Guest).
Of the unlicensed individuals, Rocky Michael Chopra, Paul Garner, Yogesh Joshee, Douglas Shelley and Mark Wilson have also been charged with breaches of Rule (A)33.1.2 in that they offered bribes to Andrew Heffernan.
Kelly Inglis is also charged with a breach of Rule (A)33.4 in that she connived with Andrew Heffernan to offer to receive a bribe or bribes from Rocky Michael Chopra, Paul Garner, Yogesh Joshee, Douglas Shelley and Mark Wilson.
Paul Garner is also charged with a breach of Rule (C)64.2.1 in that he placed lay bets on horses trained by Alan McCabe at a time when he was entered on the Register of Stable Employees at Alan McCabe’s yard.
THE CHARGES
In relation to the running of:
1. WANCHAI WHISPER on 28th January 2011 at 15.25 at Lingfield, and/or
2. GALLANTRY on 2nd February 2011 at 19.20 at Kempton and/or
3. SILVER GUEST on 9th February 2011 at 13.55 at Lingfield.
AND in the period between about 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011.
AND in respect of the Races identified in the Table in Notes for Editors.
Andrew Heffernan
Did ANDREW HEFFERNAN on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by communicating directly or indirectly to one or more Betting Exchange account holders information relating to the prospects in the race of that horse which was or included information (i) obtained in his capacity as a licensed person and (ii) which was not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’) specifically that he would take steps or omit to ride the horse so as to prevent the horse from achieving its best possible placing, knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case and knowing that such information would or might be used to gain an unfair advantage in the betting market?
2. Did ANDREW HEFFERNAN on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit corrupt or fraudulent practice by communicating directly or indirectly to one or more Betting Exchange account holders information relating to the prospects in the race of that horse which was or included information (i) obtained in his capacity as a licensed person and (ii) which was not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case and knowing that such information would or might be used to gain an unfair advantage in the betting market?
3. In relation to WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, SILVER GUEST, and/or the horses named in the appended Table and/or other races unidentified in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011, did ANDREW HEFFERNAN on, and/or before, the date of the race act in breach of Rule (A)36.1 in that he communicated directly or indirectly to one or more account holders on betting exchanges, for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind, information relating to the prospects of his rides, which was or included Inside Information knowing, such information was Inside Information?
4. In the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 did ANDREW HEFFERNAN offer to receive or received a bribe or bribes from ROCKY MICHAEL CHOPRA, MARK WILSON, PAUL GARNER, DOUGLAS SHELLEY, YOGESH JOSHEE, and/or persons unknown in breach of Rule (A)33.4
5. In relation to WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST, did ANDREW HEFFERNAN act in breach of Rule (B)59.2 by intentionally failing to ensure that the horse was run on its merits?
Rocky Michael Chopra
1. Did ROCKY MICHAEL CHOPRA on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by placing bets and/or causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to to place bets on the horse ANDREW HEFFERNAN rode in the race using information he had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse which was or included information (i) obtained by the Jockey or other licensed person in their capacity as licensed persons which was (ii) not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), and knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case, and that such information would provide an unfair advantage in the betting market?
2. In the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 did ROCKY MICHAEL CHOPRA offer a bribe to ANDREW HEFFERNAN in breach of Rule (A)33.1.2.
James Coppinger
1. Did JAMES COPPINGER on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by placing bets and/or causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to place bets on the horse ANDREW HEFFERNAN rode in the race using information he had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse which was or included information (i) obtained by the Jockey or other licensed person in their capacity as licensed persons which was (ii) not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), and knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case, and that such information would provide an unfair advantage in the betting market?
Paul Garner
1. Did PAUL GARNER on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended Table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by placing bets and/or causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to place bets on the horse ANDREW HEFFERNAN rode in the race using information he had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse which was or included information (i) obtained by the Jockey or other licensed person in their capacity as licensed persons which was (ii) not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), and knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case, and that such information would provide an unfair advantage in the betting market?
2. In the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011, did PAUL GARNER offer a bribe to ANDREW HEFFERNAN in breach of Rule (A)33.1.2
3. In the period 9th January 2011 to 18th February 2011, at a time when he was entered on the Register of Stable Employees at Alan McCabe’s yard did PAUL GARNER act in breach of Rule (C)64.2.1 in that he placed a lay bet on horses that Alan McCabe trained namely:
(i) CITY LEGEND in its race on 10th January 2011 at 14.05 at Wolverhampton and/or
(ii) ELUSIVE WARRIOR in its race on 17th February 2011 at 14.20 at Southwell.
Kelly Inglis
1. Did KELLY INGLIS on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that she conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to place bets on the horse ANDREW HEFFERNAN rode in the race using information she had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse which was or included information (i) obtained by the Jockey or other licensed person in their capacity as licensed persons which was (ii) not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), and knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case, and that such information would provide an unfair advantage in the betting market?
2. In the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011, did KELLY INGLIS connive with ANDREW HEFFERNAN to offer to receive or receive a bribe or bribes from ROCKY MICHAEL CHOPRA, MARK WILSON, PAUL GARNER, DOUGLAS SHELLEY, YOGESH JOSHEE, and/or persons unknown in breach of Rule (A)33.4
Yogesh Joshee
1. Did YOGESH JOSHEE on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by placing bets and/or causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to place bets the horse ANDREW HEFFERNAN rode in the race using information he had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse which was or included information (i) obtained by the Jockey or other licensed person in their capacity as licensed persons which was (ii) not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), and knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case, and that such information would provide an unfair advantage in the betting market?
2. In the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011, did YOGESH JOSHEE offer a bribe to ANDREW HEFFERNAN in breach of Rule (A)33.1.2
Douglas Shelley
1. Did DOUGLAS SHELLEY on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by placing bets and/or causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to place bets the horse ANDREW HEFFERNAN rode in the race using information he had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse which was or included information (i) obtained by the Jockey or other licensed person in their capacity as licensed persons which was (ii) not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), and knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case, and that such information would provide an unfair advantage in the betting market?
2. In the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011, did DOUGLAS SHELLEY offer a bribe to ANDREW HEFFERNAN in breach of Rule (A)33.1.2
Pravin Shingadia
1. Did PRAVIN SHINGADIA on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by placing bets and/or causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to place bets on the horse ANDREW HEFFERNAN rode in the race using information he had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse which was or included information (i) obtained by the Jockey or other licensed person in their capacity as licensed persons which was (ii) not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), and knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case, and that such information would provide an unfair advantage in the betting market?
Mark Wilson
1. Did MARK WILSON on, and/or before, the date of the races of WANCHAI WHISPER, GALLANTRY, and/or SILVER GUEST and/or in the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011 and/or in relation to the horses named in the appended table act in breach of Rule (A)41.2 in that he conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by placing bets and/or causing one or more other Betting Exchange account holders to place bets on the horse ANDREW HEFFERNAN rode in the race using information he had received directly or indirectly from the Jockey or other licensed person relating to the prospects in the race of the named horse which was or included information (i) obtained by the Jockey or other licensed person in their capacity as licensed persons which was (ii) not publicly available or authorised for such disclosure by the Rules of Racing (‘Inside Information’), and knowing that (i) and (ii) were the case, and that such information would provide an unfair advantage in the betting market?
2. In the period between 1st November 2010 and 31st March 2011, did MARK WILSON offer a bribe to ANDREW HEFFERNAN in breach of Rule (A)33.1.2
