Knuckles being wrapped/wrists being slapped..

THE National Horseracing Authority has wrapped a few people over the knuckles in recent times.

Trainer Charles Laird has pleaded guilty and was fined R40,000 after a horse in his care, Anaboo, tested positive for prohibited substance Procaine after competing at the Vaal on 30 April. He may appeal against the penalty and Anaboo has been disqualified.

In a Press Release, Laird accepted liability but stated that Anaboo’s positive specimen came about due to a veterinary surgeon administering the wrong medication to Anaboo and a letter from Fourways Equine Clinic stated: ``This error could not have been detected by any member of Laird Racing Stable staff before the positive finding.’’

Trainer Dylan Cunha pleaded guilty and was fined R52,500 after a horse in his care, Court Of Justice, tested positive for prohibited substance Clanobutin after competing at Greyville on 27 February. Cunha may appeal against the penalty and Court Of Justice has been disqualified.

Jockey Devin Habib has been suspended for three weeks, of which two weeks is suspended for one year providing he is not found guilty of a similar offense during that period, for using the crop in an excessive manner in the latter stages of Race 4 at the Vaal on 2 July. He pleaded not guilty and may appeal against the finding and penalty.

Denicious Smith has accepted a suspension from 6 to 12 July for failing to ensure he did not cause interference to Bernabeau while riding Fair Beau at the Vaal on 2 July.

Jockey Alexander Forbes has accepted a suspension from 11 to 17 July for failing to ensure he did not cause interference to other runners while riding Elgin Marbles at Arlington on 1 July.

Apprentice Donald Bogaleboile has been suspended from 11 to 17 July for failing to ensure he did not cause interference to Oceanus while riding Billy Bruiser at Arlington on 1 July.

Jockey Nadine Rapson has been suspended from 11 to 24 July for failing to present herself to be weighed in by the Clerk Of Scales immediately after entering the weighing room after riding Gimmeawink at Arlington on 3 July.

Jockey Johnny Geroudis has accepted a one-week holiday from 12 to 18 July for failing to ensure he did not cause interference to Spiced Gold while riding All Afire at Greyville on July Day.

On a wee bit heavier note!

Lynch fined £50k, Williams banned


THE BHA disciplinary panel on Tuesday morning confirmed that Fergal Lynch has been fined £50,000 following the sport's latest race-fixing enquiry.

As first revealed in the Racing Post two weeks ago, Lynch, who had been accused of a breach of the non-trier rule, six charges of passing on information and betting on 15 races, has escaped without a ban,unlike Darren Williams, who will not be allowed to ride for three months after being found guilty of crimes by the panel.

BHA confirms Lynch "plea bargain" deal


THE BHA on Wednesday morning revealed that Fergal Lynch escaped the race-fixing enquiry without a suspension after racing's regulator and the jockey agreed through a plea bargain that he would pay a fine of £50,000.

While Lynch, who has now forged a successful career riding in the United States, has been given a financial penalty, Darren Williams, found guilty of supplying inside information, has been banned from June 26 to September 25.

The findings of the disciplinary panel enquiry confirm a previous Racing Post report that Lynch and the BHA in June "came to a provisional agreement" in the form of a plea bargain.

On the part of the accused, "the admissions of the breach of the Rules made by Lynch were comprehensive" and included the admission that he had "stopped" Bond Cityat Ripon in August 2004 knowing that the horse had been laid to lose by Miles Rodgers. Lynch had previously denied this at the Old Bailey trial.

Describing the plea bargain in detail, the BHA report says: "The critical parts werethat Lynch would pay a fine of £50,000 and that he would undertake not to apply for a UK licence for 12 months and not to ride in the UK for 12 months.

"The Panel was prepared to approve this because the undertaking notto ride here for 12 months was the practical equivalent, so far as UK racing is concerned, of a suspension for that period. The BHA gave an undertaking, as part of the deal, not to 'invite any other jurisdiction to impose any restriction on Lynch's licence to race as a result of these proceedings' unless he fails to pay the fine.

"In the circumstances, the undertaking not to race here for 12 months plus the £50,000 fine was an acceptable alternative to the ban which would have been imposed if Lynch still wanted to race here."

Lynch 'got off pretty lightly' admits BHA


THE BHA admitted on Wednesday that Fergal Lynch had "got off pretty lightly" after the disgraced jockey was allowed tocontinue his thriving career in America in return for a payment of £50,000.

Lynch, a former champion apprentice, had admitted to a series of major offences, namely stopping a horse, supplying inside information for six of his rides, betting, and associating with the disqualified Miles Rodgers.
fergal lynch


In a novel plea bargain, Lynch has also agreed not to seek a British licence for 12 months.

He escaped with a fine dwarfed by the sum of around £90,000 paid to him by the BHA while he awaited and participated in the 2007 Old Bailey trial, at which he denied the most serious of his crimes.

As first revealed in the Racing Post two weeks ago, Lynch's punishment, which was decided upon after his legal team proposed a plea bargain to the sport's regulator, was very different to that given to fellow jockey Darren Williams, who has been banned from riding for three months after admitting passing information for reward on five occasions and to associating with Rodgers, but not stopping a horse.

In an interview on Channel 4 Racing, BHA spokesman Paul Struthers admitted that public perception of the disciplinary panel's treatment of the guilty jockeys might not be favourable.

"There is no doubt," said Struthers, "that because of everything that has happened, they have got off pretty lightly."

anybody caught should be sent to race in knuckles. I know Nico enjoys visiting Knuckles.

Why dont they ban jockeys for 12 months...let some of them die of hunger...perhaps the others will learn...
especially those that ride like their ass..
many races at the Vaal today...
if it was on the trainers instructions....ban the trainers too...

I spend my days at NorthCliff Mike Oconner...
many punters during the day..
a good group of 10 -15 that punt fairly big...
the anger is growing....
the punters are going to retaliate....
the jockeys are @#$%^&*() the punters money....
Same guys every week...ride like their ass....