HRA CONFIRMS CHARGES AGAINST FOUR JOCKEYS, A FORMER BOOKMAKER AND FOUR OTHER UNLICENSED INDIVIDUALS IN CONNECTION WITH 37 RACES

Published: Monday 14 Aug 2006

Following a Security Department investigation, four licensed jockeys – Fran Ferris, Robbie Fitzpatrick, Luke Fletcher and Robert Winston – former licensed bookmaker Ian Nicholl and four other unlicensed individuals – Kim Evans, Paul Glendenning, Joanne Roberts and Tegan Wilde – have been informed that they face various charges in relation to 37 races that took place between June 2003 and February 2004.

The races, horses and jockeys are:
Date, Course, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Finishing Position
16/6/03, Musselburgh, THE GAMBLER, Fletcher, Paul Johnson, 6/7
18/6/03, Hamilton, TOP OF THE CLASS, Ferris, David Evans, 7/10
19/6/03, Ayr, DOMINION ROSE, Winston, Willie Muir, 6/10
23/6/03, Windsor, PENRIC, Ferris, Clive Cox, 4/8
26/6/03, Hamilton, FRIAR TUCK, Winston, Linda Perratt, 7/8
29/6/03, Doncaster, TOPTON, Winston, Paul Howling, 13/13
7/7/03, Musselburgh, SCONCED, Fletcher, Mark Polglase, 5/9
25/7/03, Wol’hampton, RISK FREE, Fletcher, David Evans, 1/12
29/8/03, Ayr, DARK CHAMPION, Winston, Jedd O’Keeffe, 3/6
26/9/03, Southwell, MYANNABANANA, Winston, Paul Howling, 6/15
30/9/03, Nottingham, SPRING BREEZE, Winston, Michael Dods, 11/16
1/10/03, Newcastle, CATCH THE CAT, Fletcher, John Wainwright, 16/18
4/10/03, Redcar, SARRAAF, Winston, Ian Semple, 12/16
4/10/03, Wol’hampton, HOHS BACK, Fletcher, Paul Johnson, 12/13
7/10/03, Southwell, BOND MOONLIGHT, Winston, Bryan Smart, 4/13
14/10/03, Ayr, DIAMOND ORCHID, Fitzpatrick, David Evans, 2/16
18/10/03, Catterick, SMART DANNY, Winston, John Quinn, 5/5
21/10/03, Southwell, BLANDYS, Fletcher, John White, 8/15
22/10/03, Newcastle, PENNY HA’PENNY, Winston, David Barker, 15/19
25/10/03, Doncaster, LUCAYAN DANCER, Winston, Jim Goldie, 4/20
28/10/03, Redcar, UHOOMAGOO, Winston, Kevin Ryan, 12/16
1/11/03, Wol’hampton, AL AWWAM, Winston, James Unett, 6/13
1/11/03, Wol’hampton, NORTHERN GAMES, Winston, Kevin Ryan, 4/12
3/11/03, Redcar, SUNDRIED TOMATO, Fletcher, Peter Hiatt, 10/15
4/11/03, Catterick, CRESKELD, Winston, Bryan Smart, 8/13
7/11/03, Doncaster, CATCH THE CAT, Winston, John Wainwright, 9/22
19/11/03, Southwell, LANDING STRIP, Ferris, James Eustace, 4/15
21/11/03, Wol’hampton, CLAPTRAP, Ferris, Jamie Osborne, 7/11
6/11/03, Wol’hampton, YENALED, Winston, Kevin Ryan, 5/8
13/12/03, Southwell, PLATINUM CHARMER, Winston, Kevin Ryan, 4/11
17/12/03, Lingfield, TATWEER, Winston, Derek Shaw, 11/13
21/12/03, Wol’hampton, LIZHAR, Fletcher, Mark Polglase, 5/5
3/1/04, Lingfield, GEORGE STUBBS, Fletcher, Mark Polglase, 7/8
3/1/04, Lingfield, ALTARES, Winston, Paul Howling, 10/10
4/1/04, Southwell, MADIBA, Winston, Paul Howling, 1/6
17/2/04, Southwell, LARKY’S LOB, Fletcher, Paul Johnson, 4/9
29/2/04, Southwell, SERGEANT SLIPPER, Fitzpatrick, Charles Smith, 2/15

A Disciplinary Panel enquiry will seek to establish whether or not, in relation to each of the above races, Ian Nicholl 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 Fran Ferris, Robbie Fitzpatrick, Luke Fletcher and Robert Winston, licensed jockeys, to act in breach Rule 243 by communicating, 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, the Disciplinary Panel will be asked to consider whether Nicholl is liable to exclusion under Rule 2(v) on the further or alternative basis that he has unreasonably failed or refused to co-operate with enquiries made by Jockey Club investigators in relation to this investigation.

The Disciplinary Panel Enquiry will also seek to establish, in respect of each of their respective rides above, whether or not Fran Ferris, Robbie Fitzpatrick, Luke Fletcher and Robert Winston are in breach of:

• Rule 243 by communicating to Nicholl, or in the case of Ferris and Winston, communicating to Fitzpatrick for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind information that was not publicly available or provided for in Appendix N to the Rules (Inside Information) about the Named Horses;
and/or
Rule 220(i) by aiding and abetting the commission (in breach of Rule 201(v)) of a corrupt and/or fraudulent practice by Nicholl by communicating, to Nicholl, or in the case of Ferris and Winston, to Fitzpatrick, an agreement, assurance or other ‘Inside Information’ relating to the horse’s prospects in the race knowing that, or being reckless as to whether, or contemplating as a real possibility that (i) such information was ‘Inside Information’ and (ii) Nicholl or Fitzpatrick would use or enable someone else to use it for such a corrupt and/or fraudulent practice.
Also:
• 220(viii) by endeavouring by an overt act to mislead one or more Officials of the Jockey Club in connection with the administration or control of racing.
and/or
Rule 220(vii)(b) by providing inaccurate information in relation to the administration or control of racing.

In addition to these charges, the Disciplinary Panel will seek to establish whether or not Fitzpatrick is in breach of:
• Rules 243 and/or 220(i) in respect of the 25 races in which Fran Ferris and Robert Winston rode.

Also:
• Rule 241(i)(b) by hindering or obstructing a person duly authorised by the Stewards of the Jockey Club under Rule 1A(xxi), engaged in carrying out an investigation in connection with horseracing.

Finally, the Disciplinary Panel Enquiry will seek to establish whether or not Kim Evans, Paul Glendenning, Joanne Roberts and Tegan Wilde are:
• Liable to exclusion pursuant to Rules 2(v) and/or 201(v) and 220(i) in that they used one or more Betfair accounts in their name(s) to lay horses not to be placed in and/or not to win that race and/or authorised Nicholl so to use that Betfair account and thereby aided and abetted Nicholl’s commission of such a corrupt or fraudulent practice.
And/or
Liable to exclusion under Rule 2(v) on the basis that they unreasonably failed or refused to co-operate with enquiries made by Jockey Club investigators in relation to their role in and knowledge of the lay betting on the above races using their Betfair accounts.

A Directions Hearing has been scheduled at Shaftesbury Avenue on Wednesday 27th September, at which time it is hoped a timetable will be set for the progression of the enquiry.

14th August 2006

Notes for Editors:

1. The Rules in question, and penalty ranges for the time the offences are alleged to have occurred, are:

201 (v) – commission of a corrupt practice
– disqualify/exclude
243 – communicating information for reward
– £1,000 – 5,000 or suspend / exclude
220 (i) – aiding or abetting a breach of the Rules
– £1,000 -5,000 or disqualify/exclude
220 (viii) – misleading a Jockey Club Official
– £1,200 – 5,000 or disqualify / exclude
220 (vii) (b) – providing inaccurate information
– £100 – 2,000
220 (ix) – causing jockeys to be in breach of Rules 243-7
– disqualify / exclude