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Anaglogs Daughter
21 Apr 12 23:59
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Date Joined: 05 Jan 10
| Topic/replies: 29,477 | Blogger: Anaglogs Daughter's blog
Ban imposed in India should not apply in Britain, says jockey
BHA reciprocated ban over a rule that 'does not exist' in Britain

Will Hayler  guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 April 2012

Less than a fortnight until his return to riding after serving out a 50-day suspension imposed in India in February, the jockey Richard Hughes has attacked the British Horseracing Association's decision to reciprocate the ban.

Hughes took the decision to apply the ban in Britain to the BHA's independent appeal board on Friday, but failed in his attempt to overturn the decision, meaning that the jockey cannot ride until 1 May, just four days before the start of the Guineas meeting at Newmarket.

With three-quarters of the suspension already completed, he has ruled out high court action, his only remaining recourse against the decision.

But Hughes still argues that the reciprocation of a punishment that was handed out by the Royal Western India Turf Club after he was found to have breached a rule that does not exist in British racing – "that of failing to ride to a trainer's instructions" – was unfair.

"I understand and accept the need for reciprocation in general but I am at a loss to understand why in my case the penalty was reciprocated as I did not breach any rule there and anybody is welcome to view the race and make up their own minds," he said in a statement.

"I will outline first the background to my case and I will then deal with general reciprocation of penalties and what may be in store for other riders who ride abroad.

"My evidence at the inquiry in India was that I rode to the general instructions. I was sitting fifth in the race, about three lengths off the leader, instead of third or fourth as I was told to try and settle the filly and for her not to run free with top weight.

"To quote from the inquiry: 'He [Hughes] added that there would be many other occasions where he has not followed the instructions but uses his judgment to ride his own race and he had won many winners including for trainer H J Antia, using his own judgment and this was his style of riding'.

"This evidence was not challenged by the stewards at the inquiry or the appeals board in India nor was I told that using my own judgment on such previous occasions was contrary to the RWITC rules of racing.

"There is no rule in the RWITC Rules of Racing which makes it mandatory for a rider to ride to the trainer's very specific instructions in the early part of the race – or indeed in any other part of the race – and that if he does not do so, he will be liable to be found guilty of not allowing the horse to run on its merits.

"A rider's own judgment, as to the pace of the race and position of their horse in relation to the other horses throughout the race, is a fundamental aspect of race riding.

"The BHA disciplinary panel's view was that the conclusions of the stewards and the board of appeal in India was that the horse was not allowed run on its merits, but that in coming to that conclusion they [RWITC] did not proceed on the basis that a departure from instructions established a breach of the requirements under the rule to take all responsible and permissible measures.

"The BHA's Disciplinary Panel accepted this conclusion.

"Not riding to instructions was exactly the basis on which they found me guilty, as stated at the inquiry and appeal. I quote: 'The stewards, having deliberated on the matter at length, were not satisfied with the explanation tendered by Jockey R Hughes and held him guilty of not following the trainer's very specific instructions in the early part of the race, thereby not allowing Jacqueline Smile to run on its merits in Race No202'."

"If the RWITC did not proceed on the basis that a departure from instructions was not a requirement to establish a breach of the requirements under the rule, then what was the evidence to establish that I did not allow the horse to run on its merits?

"No other part of the race was allowed to be viewed at the RWITC inquiry or appeal. There was no evidence to suggest a motive or collusion with any other persons to commit such a breach. There was no evidence of financial gain or otherwise. It simply relied on the opinion of the stewards."

Hughes went on to argue that the very nature of the way his inquiry in India was conducted should have prevented its findings from being upheld by the British authorities.

"One of the main objectives of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities by way of its 'international agreement' is to enhance public confidence in the integrity of the sport of racing," continued the statement.

"The BHA are signatories to article 10 of the international agreement, which deals with the reciprocation of penalties and to quote from that agreement: 'Members who have adopted an article in full or in part shall make provision within their domestic rules implementing its intentions.' The RWITC is not and cannot be a signatory to article 10 of the agreement by virtue of the fact that their rules of racing specifically deny the right of an appellant to be legally represented at an appeal hearing and as such it is a condition of a licence to ride there.

"The disciplinary panel's reasons for their rejection of the application not to reciprocate the suspension rely on the fact that the Royal Western India Turf Club is a recognised racing authority and not whether the RWITC is a signatory to, or follows the principles of, article 10 of the international agreement.

"If I had received a 10-year ban or more then the BHA said that under their rules they would have to reciprocate it. This is at odds with the policy of the BHA with regard to reciprocation.

"It is illogical that there should be two systems of reciprocity, one where the signatory racing authority signs an agreement and agrees to put into their rules certain principles and standards that must be followed, while on the other hand to have another system with lesser obligations on the non-signatory racing authorities.

"There seems little point in any racing authority being a signatory to article 10 if there is to be a parallel system with automatic reciprocation. My contention was that by abandoning article 10, the RWITC abandoned its right to reciprocity under rule 69.

"In respect of the international agreement, I would have to conclude that the failure of my appeal is in part due to the BHA not including specific provisions in their domestic rules of racing, which they committed themselves to do as a signatory to article 10 of the international agreement. This would have enabled them to deal comprehensively with reciprocation of penalties."
Pause Switch to Standard View Richard Hughes launches detailed...
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Report triumphoragony April 22, 2012 12:50 AM BST
They have got it in for hughes ever since he handed in his license imo
Report Dr Gonzo April 22, 2012 1:05 AM BST
He certainly has a point, particularly in regards to this;

'The stewards, having deliberated on the matter at length, were not satisfied with the explanation tendered by Jockey R Hughes and held him guilty of not following the trainer's very specific instructions in the early part of the race, thereby not allowing Jacqueline Smile to run on its merits in Race No202'

Are they seriously suggesting that the only way a horse can run on its merits is by following exactly what the trainer might say?
Report ima_mazed66 April 22, 2012 1:06 AM BST
Don't want to seem rude triumphoragony but that's a ridiculous statement and was it the BHA that initially banned him?

There are a few issues here and the first being that if he feels he didn't do anything wrong in India then there are appeal procedures which he used and was unsuccessful with. The second issue is that the BHA might well agree that the rule he was banned under doesn't apply here but he didn't get the ban here so that's irrelevant and when in Rome and all that, and you couldn't have foreign jockeys come here and break a rule that doesn't apply in their own country and so expect them not to be banned and if they were and that jockey's own country overturned it then that would be undermining the BHA's decisions, just as it would be undermining if Hughes's banned was ignored here.
Report Roger De Bris April 22, 2012 2:27 AM BST
terrible when things don't go your way isn't it?
Just like Betfair punters who backed Available to be in the first 3 on Betfair on the 12th October 2011.
What goes around, comes around.
Report Lampus April 22, 2012 6:51 AM BST
Revenge of the   out of touch  toffsSad
Report topfarrier April 22, 2012 7:11 AM BST
The BHA are not known to be vindictive,petty,incompetent usually are they?....Plain
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 8:27 AM BST
Where you are wrong Ima is that 50 days in India does not reflect 50 days in GB. By reciprocating the ban the BHA trebled it. Where in the rules does it say that the BHA can significantly increase a ban? Had the BHA found a semblence of common sense, something they have repeatedly shown they lack, then their 'reciprocation' should reflect exactly what the ban entails. That means RH should have been banned 15 days and not 50.
Report geoff m April 22, 2012 8:35 AM BST
Absolutely crazy rule.
But  When In Rome etc...
If you are that desperate for a few more Rupees Hughsie.
Doubt he will be going next year.
Report MJK April 22, 2012 9:00 AM BST
Maybe he can now concerntrate on learning from his old man on how to 'organise' a race.
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 9:22 AM BST
Had RH won the race using the tactics he decided to use under the circumstances the trainer would have called him a genius. And the stewards would have done f u c k all. Completely crazy rule and the BHA shows it's hand again that it is absolutely clueless and the board should do the honourably thing, the thing they should have done over the whip rule, and resign immediately.

British horseracing needs a clear, positive and pro-active leadership it clearly does not have.
Report pedrobob April 22, 2012 10:19 AM BST
imazed, did you even read anything at all that Hughes wrote in his statement, which deals with your "issues"? You may as well have hung him before he even got to appeal with that type of thinking.

Worst of all you say Hughes used up the appeals system in India. Before even asking another question, is it not pretty obvious that a system or set of rules which does not permit legal representation, including at an appeal, is automatically doomed to be a kangaroo court and has no place in the free world?

(Oh I forgot, India still has an horrendous caste system where it automatically discriminates against the majority of its population)

Hughes' points (clearly written with the aid of legally qualified person that would presumably not be permitted in India) seem valid, and whether you like him or not, difficult to see how his ban could objectively have been upheld
Report duncan idaho April 22, 2012 10:35 AM BST
sounds like he's been stitched up and is going to have to take it on the chin...timing a bit rum given this could have been his best shot at jockey's title...can only think Indian authorities not keen on having foreign jocks riding there for whatever reason
Report Ramruma April 22, 2012 10:54 AM BST
@pedrobob -- legal representation is not permitted in this country in workplace appeals against disciplinary action or dismissal. You can take in a union rep or co-worker, but not a lawyer (except where a professional such as a doctor faces being permanently struck off).

So the Indian appeal system is like that which applies to 99 per cent of British workers, and the BHA, in allowing legal representation, is more generous.
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 11:58 AM BST
Pedro does that include an industrial tribunal? If you believe you have been disciplined or sacked wrongfully you can go to an Industrial tribunal where legal representation is allowed.
Report wee eck April 22, 2012 12:03 PM BST
By all accounts there were 15 days racing left in India before their season ended,

therefore imo Hughes should have been banned from riding on those 15 days.
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 12:11 PM BST
If a reciprocal arrangement exists where Sam Waley-Cohen can be banned when riding in a NON-AMATEUR race and have the ban only cover amateur races then the BHA want's to look very closely at it's rules. This is nothing short of vindictive and does nothing but make the BHA board look bigger fools, if that is possible.
Report Rider April 22, 2012 12:12 PM BST
hughes once proudly said he didnt ride for punters he rode for owners, so dont feel too sorry for him
Report wee eck April 22, 2012 12:16 PM BST
He has been seriously stitched up by all  concerned
Report ykickamoocow April 22, 2012 12:23 PM BST
its all well and good but its done and dusted now..i do feel hughes was hard done by and as he said he won races using his own initiative and nothing was said about it...its a rule that should be used only in cases where suspicion of wrong doing is at hand..u cant have a rule like this with the uncertainty that is race riding..it just doesnt work..riding to instructions is all well and good but when the stall gate opens 90% of those instructions go out the window...in fact i would go so far as saying it could cause a serious accident with jockeys trying to fulfil those instructions to the letter..i have ridden abroad and totally agree with the when in rome theory but sometimes common sense is needed..this was one such case and it has effectively cost hughes the flat championship here..or has it..Grin

one other thing i think the trainer in this case has a lot to answer for.i dont know about the owner of the horse..but the trainer will always be associated with this incident and i for one would not want to ride for him if he's capable of doing something like this..and hughes probably rode winners for the man in the past...sad really...
Report ykickamoocow April 22, 2012 12:26 PM BST
hughes once proudly said he didnt ride for punters he rode for owners, so dont feel too sorry for him

this is a fact...no jockey rides for punters..are u mad...its there living..they ride for owners and trainers who pay them...Angry

and i see another comment knocking his father..there is no place for comments like that on here...place is full of clowns
Report Rider April 22, 2012 12:32 PM BST
ykickamoocow, let me spell it out for you then as you are clearly a bit thick

dont feel sorry for any of them
Report wee eck April 22, 2012 12:34 PM BST
Truly a rancid business run by putrified peopleSad
Report ykickamoocow April 22, 2012 12:43 PM BST
Laugh@RIDER
i dont feel sorry for anyone..and i def aint thick..u seem to think that jockeys should ride for punters...the most ridiculous statement ever seen on a betfair thread....LaughLaughLaugh
Report Gerry Gallbladder April 22, 2012 1:14 PM BST
If jockeys always rode to obtain the best possible placing then they would, in effect, be riding for punters imo. Can't see why you find Rider's statement so ridiculous. Or perhaps it's the concept of jockeys doing what they are supposed to that you really find ridiculous?
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 1:35 PM BST
This is not about personalities it is about the rules and BHA.
If Sam Waley-Cohen can ride in a 'professionals' race and break the rules but then have the punishment limited to 'amateur' races then it is not unreasonable to expect a 15 day punishment in India be matched by a 15 day punishment in the UK.
Report the dealer April 22, 2012 1:59 PM BST
have to wonder if it was the likes of hannigan or de sousa etc would some of the replies have been slightly different. the point clearly is the punishment doesnt fit the crime whatever way you look at it. are we really saying he deserved 50 days for that. really!!!!!
Report dunlaying April 22, 2012 1:59 PM BST
"Rules are made for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men."
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 2:13 PM BST
If what you say is true Watchit, and I personally don't think it is, but if it is then the BHA board should go and go now.
Report Anaglogs Daughter April 22, 2012 2:23 PM BST
The Jockeys should take out a copyrighty thinghamajigy

Operator: ''Hello Paddy B0yles how can i help you?".

Customer: "I have just been going through my statement and i noticed on 4 winners i backed i had 10% winnings took out what the feck is that for?"

Operator: "That 10% is for the winning jockeys of those 4 winners" Anything else i can help you with? By the way sir 4 winners you say ok! your account will be restricted".."Have a nice day"!!!
Report ima_mazed66 April 22, 2012 4:16 PM BST
I don't see where I am wrong in anything I've previously written in this thread brigust1 because everything was factually correct.....whether you think it's fair or not is another issue.

Yes I read the statement pedrobob and I haven't hanged anyone and as for Richard Hughes's appeals being unsuccessful, I was actually more on about his BHA appeal than the Indian one and what does he do anyway, keep going until he gets the answer he wants? When both previous appeals failed anyway there was talk him him taking it to the courts but what if that fails too, the European courts under claims of breaching his human rights?

All I'm saying is no matter how badly or unfairly anyone might or might not think he's been treated, he's gone to another country to ride and so has to abide by their rules and take their punishments. This is a hypothetical unlikely example but if a foreign jockey came here and then basically stopped riding once his chance of winning had gone and came home in their own time rather than try to gain the best possible placing, how far do you think they would get if they said they did that in their country all the time?

My main point though is if he thinks he's been unfairly treated in India and maybe unfairly treated regarding their appeal procedure well he's exhausted all of his appeals there and he had a choice or swallowing it, taking the ban and going back there again where he's had quite a lot of success in the past or refuse to ride there any more, just as he did here when the the new whip rules came in and he was being banned. I just don't see how though he can then expect one country's racing authority to undermine another's.

Whether all of your criticisms of Indian racing are justified or not, presumably Richard Hughes knew all of this and yet still chose to ride there and made a lot of money in the process and if you don't like a club's rules then don't join that club.
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 5:32 PM BST
The point Ima, apart from the obvious unfairness, is that the Indian Racing Club is NOT a signatory to the International agreement. The BHA only accepted the suspension because the are a recognised racing authority. How absolutely, outstandingly ridiculous is that? What message does that send to the racing authorities that are signatories to the International agreement? It makes a complete mockery of their position. What on this earth is the point of putting together an International agreement if racing authorities who choose not to sign up will be recognised anyway?
As I said earlier the BHA board have shown they are completely incompetent and British Horseracing is not safe in their hands. That is if anyone who has forgotten the debacle over the whip debate cannot remember their last incompetence.
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 5:35 PM BST
This would have been an obvious opportunity for pressure to be applied to any NON signatories telling them their rules will not be recognised unless they commit themselves to the International Agreement. Utter and complete b o ll o cks up.
Report ima_mazed66 April 22, 2012 6:33 PM BST
Well then that's fair enough brigust1 and opens up a whole new issue for debate although equally so because an individual authority isn't part of a collective one, it still doesn't mean another that is part of it can't also agree with the first authority's decision and so uphold it.

I take your point though about using these kind of opportunities to try to regulate in a common manner as much as possible as opposed to having various kinds, although that line of thought is still let down a little when some of these same member authorities have different rules in different countries.
Report tippu April 22, 2012 7:31 PM BST
Is it not up to the person, choosing to ride in a particular racing jurisdiction, to determine the rules of that racing authority? In this country we expect no less. I really do not understand why this is causing so much angst. Does this mean that every UK jockey who chooses to ride outside this country can choose to trangress any given countries rules as the rule is not in the BHA's manual?
Report frog2 April 22, 2012 8:00 PM BST
Didnt he retire from race riding last year anyway?
Report the masked magician April 22, 2012 8:19 PM BST
Couple of posers.
Firstly, where is the documentation pre race to say what the trainer requirements are?.Are the trainers requirements lodged with the indian jockey club pre race or is it just " i told the jockey to do this but he did something else.

secondly, If the trainer says as a example sit the horse in 2nd or third on the rail and the jockey cant get to that posistion for cucumstaces beyond his control is he then guilty of not following the trianers requirements.

All this does sound a bit harsh imo and hypocritical of the uk horse racing authority.
Report Gerry Gallbladder April 22, 2012 8:57 PM BST
TMM - think I read (maybe on here) that stewards / stewards reps listen to the trainer giving a jockey his / her instructions in the pararde ring.
Report brigust1 April 22, 2012 9:04 PM BST
If RH broke the rules he should pay the penalty. He chose to ride in India knowing the rules there. However to translate the rules to be penal is wrong. The BHA should uphold an equivalent ban. If RH must miss 15 race days then so be it. What would they do if he was banned for 15 days in St Moritz ffs?
Plus the Indian Racing Authority have waived their rights to reciprocal punishment by not signing up to the International Agreement. This move has endorsed the Indian Racing Authority, their ridiculous rule that is not recognised in the UK and overlooked their refusal to sign up to the International Agreement.
I am not an RH fan by any stretch of the imagination but I hate unfairness. I also hate the way the BHA hold the UK racing establishment open to ridicule. It must be a laughing stock.
Report ykickamoocow April 22, 2012 9:30 PM BST
AR.135A.  When by or on behalf of a trainer, any instruction is given to, or arrangement made with
the rider of a horse engaged in a race that the horse be ridden in the race in a manner different from
the manner in which the horse was ridden at its most recent start or starts, it shall be the
responsibility of the trainer or his duly authorised agent to notify the Stewards of any such
instruction or arrangement as early as practicable but not later than when the order to mount is given
by the Stewards prior to the race.  Upon receipt of that notification the Stewards may make any
public release in respect thereof as they deem to be appropriate.
Report ykickamoocow April 22, 2012 9:55 PM BST
http://www.rwitc.com/horseracing/rulesOfRacing.pdf

the royal western Indian turf club rule book........if anyone is interested...the one rule pertaining to this case i cant find...sods lawDevil
Report silvergreaser April 22, 2012 10:14 PM BST
Hughes probably has a point not that I agree with the whinger, John Egan was wanted by the Hong Kong fraud squad and the warrant is still outstanding if he ever sets foot on HK territory again he'll be arrested, yet here was a fugitive from justice who wouldn't go back because he knew he'd face the real possibilty of jail time, yet he was granted a licence by the BHA and guess what he was up to his old tricks again in no time.
Report pedrobob April 22, 2012 11:00 PM BST
Ramruma     22 Apr 12 10:54 
@pedrobob -- legal representation is not permitted in this country in workplace appeals against disciplinary action or dismissal.

Sounds like you are more clued up on this me, Ramruma. But know for sure that doctors are allowed legal representation in front of the BMA, and are not vets similarly allowed the same when facing a RCVS panel?

But looking on the internet, looks like legal representation is now allowed in workplace tribunals since 2010
http://www.industriallawsociety.org.uk/index.php?option=com_acajoom&act=mailing&task=view&listid=5&mailingid=165&Itemid=999
Report Roger De Bris April 23, 2012 1:42 AM BST
Richard Hughes has been stitching up each way/placepot and place punters for years. About time he had a taste of his own medicine. He was only back from his winter break and he almost done it again on Rightcar - 11th Feb, 1L up and easily claiming 3rd when he done his usual trick of easing up. He hung on by a cigarette paper, watch the closing stages on RP.
I am absolutely delighted he's had a taste of the unfair medicine he dishes out on a regular occurrence to punters. Then when he was geting his bans for hitting his stables gambled on horses more than the 7 permitted, he throws his toys out of his pram and hands in his licence, claiming (laughably) on an RUK interview with McNae and Willoughby, that he always rides in the interest of punters, when he had told Lydia Hislop in a previous interview that he NEVER rides for punters, owners only...
Report Ramruma April 23, 2012 5:41 AM BST
@pedrobob -- on the question of lawyers in workplace proceedings, you have snipped from my original answer the part in brackets which directly addresses your point:

@pedrobob -- legal representation is not permitted in this country in workplace appeals against disciplinary action or dismissal. You can take in a union rep or co-worker, but not a lawyer (except where a professional such as a doctor faces being permanently struck off).

The cases in your link refer to teachers and doctors facing career-ending proceedings. And in this light, you will also recall that when jockeys face losing their licences, as in recent corruption cases, they too are legally represented.

So racing follows the rest of the country and Hughes has no cause for complaint on this score.
Report posy April 23, 2012 11:07 AM BST
Whilst there is an element of unfairness in the 50 day ban there is an important issue at the heart of this matter and that is the fundamental concept (and i choose my words carefully) of every horse in every race being allowed to run to the best of its capabilities.In my view it should be presumed that a trainer knows his horse's capability better than the jockey and is perfectly entitled to give broad instructions as to how a horse should be ridden and in the exceptional case where there is an enquiry into the race riding of a particular horse he should be called into the enquiry along with the jockey so the stewards hear from both of them at the same time.In the great majority of cases where a jockey doesn't ride to instructions it is because the horse isn't able to, not because the jockey ignores them (Lester being an exception of course).What we need to minimise (we'll never stamp it out) is the number of races where the jockey is bribed/threatened to neither win nor place by outside parties and that is why if a jockey doesn't ride to the trainer's instructions he should be held to account.
Too easy to knock the Indian stewards in my opinion.
Report pedrobob April 23, 2012 11:24 AM BST
If RH must miss 15 race days then so be it.

Brigust, it's not 15 days, it's 50 days, a severe penalty well beyond a crime (if any) Hughes has committed

Ramruma, thanks for the correction. Pretty sure that trainers and jockeys have legal representation in BHA disciplinaries for offences that do not result in permanent disqualification or removal of licence? eg Nicky Henderson, Kirsty Milczarek etc.....
Report pedrobob April 23, 2012 11:28 AM BST
it should be presumed that a trainer knows his horse's capability better than the jockey and is perfectly entitled to give broad instructions as to how a horse should be ridden

posy, think you would be horrified how many trainers don't even know who the decent jockeys are let alone have any understanding about race tactics, draw biases, track preferences. Some trainers refuse to have their horses ridden from the front, some always race from the front - does that make their race tactics always correct?

Hardly any trainers can even be bothered to walk the track. Aidan O'Brien a rare exception.
Report soursestar April 23, 2012 11:56 AM BST
If R.Hughes did not ride his mount to trainers instruction and won the race anyway,would he still get a ban for not riding to instruction?? What comes ultimately first instruction or winning ?. It sounds like sour grapes to me
Report brigust1 April 23, 2012 11:57 AM BST
Pedro that is nit-picking. He was banned for 15 racing days spread over  50 days. I'm sure these stewards you seem to hold a great deal of respect for knew very well that 50 days actually only mean't 15. And you miss my point.
My point is the Indian Authority is not a signatory to the International Agreement, their rule is not recognised over here and their punishment in India does not equate fairly when applied in the UK.
Three very good reasons why the BHA could have shown some leadership and common sense (little hope of that) and shown India that our system is the better one and they should sign up to it.
Report wee eck April 23, 2012 12:06 PM BST
R Hughes is held in low esteem by the BHA and the chance to sock it to him was

just to good to refuse.   It really is disgraceful the way they have interpreted

the rules to Hughes disadvantage.
Report pedrobob April 23, 2012 12:09 PM BST
brigust, your second point I fully agree with and what clearly some on here had not read in his statement before denying Hughes right to proper appeal with legal representation

I may not have understood the 15 or 50 days correctly..... all I know is that Hughes is banned for 50 days in the UK right up to the Guineas meeting, hardly nitpicking and a major chunk out of Hughes' season
Report saddo April 23, 2012 12:11 PM BST
Let it go, wee eck.
Report wee eck April 23, 2012 12:22 PM BST
saddo,I have long got out of my bet on Hughes have switched to Moore.

I am a person who has always believed in fair play and the way that

Hughes has been treated by the BHA in this matter is nothing short of

draconian, to top it up it has acted exactly how star chambers acted

in the past where miscreants had no legal rights.
Report saddo April 23, 2012 12:28 PM BST
I am glad you are out, wee eck.
Report miss.wales April 23, 2012 12:57 PM BST
What would happen in India if 3 jockeys were all given instructions to make the running at all costs?
Report wee eck April 23, 2012 1:03 PM BST
miss a jolly could question, send for the BHA's Q.C. for an opinion.
Report Gerry Gallbladder April 23, 2012 1:17 PM BST
Any trainer issuing such naive instructions as "make the running at all costs" would be struck with an immediate ban for gross stupidity imo.
Report posy April 23, 2012 1:30 PM BST
An interesting question...if a trainer gives that instruction then the jockey should follow it to the best of the horses's ability and at the inevitable stewards enquiry the trainer would be referred to the jockey club and be threatened with losing his license.
Report MJK April 23, 2012 2:16 PM BST
ykick if you were a regular racegoer/owner over here you'd know what I was talking about. Rancid outfit.
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