Best hits out after BHA ban on his self-certs By Graham Green 7:05AM 24 SEP 2014
JIM BEST has claimed he will be forced to deceive the betting public by saddling horses he does not want to run after being excluded by the BHA, along with Gay Kelleway, from the self-certification process for the rest of the year.
Best, who was embroiled in controversy this month when Saint Helena landed a gamble at Southwell under Tony McCoy - whose original mount Into The Wind was withdrawn after a ground change - was among 14 trainers warned in May they risked losing the ability to self-certify unless their percentage of non-runners fell across the three months to the end of August.
The East Sussex trainer was indignant on Tuesday after being informed by BHA director of racing Ruth Quinn that if he wants to withdraw a horse on veterinary grounds he will now have to get the form signed by a vet and that failure to do so will result in a fine.
Best, who argues the majority of his self-certificates are for horses he feels would not do themselves justice after failing to eat their overnight feed, says he is not prepared to pay the vet fees.
He said: "By stopping me and my brother Tom self-certifying the only people to suffer will be the public and punters, because you'll basically be deceiving them. Ruth Quinn says I should call a vet out, but you can't do that at 4.30am or 5am when it would cost £200, and also our owners wouldn't allow it when we're professionals and know the horses best.
"We're only a small operation and can't afford a fine, so if we had an odds-on favourite we'd have to run it without punters knowing it hadn't eaten up overnight and without us having any confidence it could perform to its ability."
He added: "To us, this has come very close to the Saint Helena incident, but we feel they're two different issues because when we take a horse out because of ground, as with Into The Wind, that's not a self-certification, and we could do the same thing again next week.
"All I want to do is let the public understand that the only ones to lose out on this are some horses, because they probably shouldn't be running, and the betting public. If we have an odds-on favourite due to leave the yard at 5am and it has not eaten up, we wouldn't want to run it, but as we haven't got the ability to self-certify we'll be forced to run. That will be deceiving the public."
Saint Helena is the subject of a BHA investigation in the wake of her victory at Southwell after being backed from 6-1 to 11-10. The mare was making her handicap debut over hurdles, having failed to make the frame in seven previous starts since joining Best, and was originally due to be partnered by Rhys Flint, who at that point had not had a ride this season.
Quinn said: "Jim Best and Gay Kelleway were two of a small handful of trainers who had been operating with non-runner rates above the thresholds throughout 2013, and who were written to in May to inform them that, should their ratio of non-runners not drop below the threshold, their right to self-certify may be withdrawn for the remainder of 2014.
"Having reviewed their non-runner rates after the further three-month period, it has been determined they both continue to operate above the threshold levels. As such it is the BHA's view they are continuing to abuse the self-certification system and they should have this privilege withdrawn for the remainder of 2014.
"The thresholds have been set significantly higher than the average non-runner rate, and the vast majority of trainers are able to operate well below these thresholds, so in the view of the BHA there is no excuse to be producing non-runners at this rate."
She added: "The action taken is the result of an initiative by the BHA to regulate rules regarding non-runners on a more robust basis, as part of a wider focus on safeguarding field sizes and to protect the interests of the punter.
"The consequence for the trainers is that they must now operate in the same manner as all trainers would have done before the privilege of self-certification was introduced."
Worrying that the welfare of the horse is not worth £200. Be moaning next when Animal Aid complain about sick horses running because a trainer was not prepared to pay a vet to look at it.
Worrying that the welfare of the horse is not worth £200. Be moaning next when Animal Aid complain about sick horses running because a trainer was not prepared to pay a vet to look at it.
Welfare of Animals should always come first the running of horses who haven't eaten up probably goes on already,isn't there an on course vet who checks if an animal is fit to run?..
Welfare of Animals should always come first the running of horses who haven't eaten up probablygoes on already,isn't there an on course vet who checks if an animal is fit to run?..
jim best's whine doesn't impress me at all...well done to the BHA and no doubt if he does run a duff odds on shot they'll be down on him like the proverbial ton of bricks.
jim best's whine doesn't impress me at all...well done to the BHA and no doubt if he does run a duff odds on shot they'll be down on him like the proverbial ton of bricks.
i bet Jim lies awake in bed at night worrying about us poor punters, desperate not to deceive us....that ****ing statement is deceiving us, cos it's just more Jim Best bullsh!t...would love to see them get warned off some day soon
i bet Jim lies awake in bed at night worrying about us poor punters, desperate not to deceive us....that ****ing statement is deceiving us, cos it's just more Jim Best bullsh!t...would love to see them get warned off some day soon
What a shame. Everyone coped before self-certs, so they'll just have to do it again.
In any event, I seem to recall a number of his recent non-runners have been declared late morning, so the '4.30-5am' line wouldn't seem to have much substance to it.
What a shame. Everyone coped before self-certs, so they'll just have to do it again.In any event, I seem to recall a number of his recent non-runners have been declared late morning, so the '4.30-5am' line wouldn't seem to have much substance to it.
Not sure whether it was Jim Best talking about deceiving the public or a BHA representative mentioning protecting the interests of the punter that made me cough on my cornflakes.
Not sure whether it was Jim Best talking about deceiving the public or a BHA representative mentioning protecting the interests of the punter that made me cough on my cornflakes.
I've often wondered if jockeys/trainers have to take an acting course. You see them being interviewed and 'pure as the driven snow' springs to mind. I remember a jockey riding over here who used to get a guy I know to put bets on for him, probably 2/3 a week. Sometimes these were bets on a horse he was riding against in a race. This guy was thought of as 'one of the nicest in the weighing room' etc etc and everyone was always delighted for him when he won a big one. You then realise how a lot of these fellas are able to set themselves up as trainers and get horses from the Rancid one to train.
I've often wondered if jockeys/trainers have to take an acting course. You see them being interviewed and 'pure as the driven snow' springs to mind. I remember a jockey riding over here who used to get a guy I know to put bets on for him, probably 2/
its simple the only people who keep the game going ANY GAME are the paying public but in horse racing the public are treated like mugs tell that to Jim.. Or the BHB .
its simple the only people who keep the game going ANY GAME are the paying public but in horse racing the public are treated like mugs tell that to Jim.. Or the BHB .
Or better yet, he comes on RUK, telling the world that it hasn't eaten up, but he isn't allowed to withdraw it...... 4/6 shot goes 2/1 and gags up with all the stable in clover. Basically it's a cheats charter.
Or better yet, he comes on RUK, telling the world that it hasn't eaten up, but he isn't allowed to withdraw it...... 4/6 shot goes 2/1 and gags up with all the stable in clover. Basically it's a cheats charter.
Apart from the issue of the self certs and the fact the yard land a good few gambles,could any of you tell me from personal experience,not just jumping on the bandwagon,that the yard as as low as many of you think
Apart from the issue of the self certs and the fact the yard land a good few gambles,could any of you tell me from personal experience,not just jumping on the bandwagon,that the yard as as low as many of you think
The whole tenor of Best's comments are that we should somehow feel sorry for him because he has been singled out for unfavourable treatment from the BHA.
From a man who clearly doesn't have any regard for punters (not that I expect any trainer to by the way) if he's looking for a positive response he's either delusional or is suffering from an extreme case of chutzpah.
My money is on the latter.
The whole tenor of Best's comments are that we should somehow feel sorry for him because he has been singled out for unfavourable treatment from the BHA. From a man who clearly doesn't have any regard for punters (not that I expect any trainer to by
Doesn't want the owner to pay £200 for a vet but happy for him to put diesel in the horse box to get to the track and pay a jockey to ride and for racing shoes and anything else that a day at the races brings.WAC of a man thick as pig5hit imho
Doesn't want the owner to pay £200 for a vet but happy for him to put diesel in the horse box to get to the track and pay a jockey to ride and for racing shoes and anything else that a day at the races brings.WAC of a man thick as pig5hit imho
TRD I've no idea whether his yard / him are 'particularly bad' but I do know the machinations around self certs and he has taken the pss and has now had the option withdrawn. No feasible argument for having way more SC particularly for guff like 'not eating up' than any other trainer.
TRD I've no idea whether his yard / him are 'particularly bad' but I do know the machinations around self certs and he has taken the pss and has now had the option withdrawn. No feasible argument for having way more SC particularly for guff like 'no
perhaps he could have a self cert for couldnt get on at the price, market not in their favour, false overnight gamble, false morning gamble,just on confuse the public, at least we would know where we are.
perhaps he could have a self cert for couldnt get on at the price, market not in their favour, false overnight gamble, false morning gamble,just on confuse the public, at least we would know where we are.
the guys a rogue exploiting the system to the hilt he does not care for punters only people who can profit from this is the trainer and people in the know with him how can you know the night before its due to race the following day with this stable,reading form on the horse is not the biggest factor unfortunately... and in regards to the bha -laughable there should not be loopholes there for trainers to exploit them Prescott stable is similar-forget the bare form
the guys a rogueexploiting the system to the hilthe does not care for puntersonly people who can profit from this is the trainer and people in the know with himhow can you know the night before its due to race the following daywith this stable,rea
Don't all trainers have to flaunt the rules,especially those with inferior horses.
Watch the last run of Beltor,not off a yard till today and in it goes
Don't all trainers have to flaunt the rules,especially those with inferior horses.Watch the last run of Beltor,not off a yard till today and in it goes
disagree getting one over punters as well we all know in handicaps what goes on.... as a punter most of the time we have to back on form and stats once it goes beyond that we are in real trouble and jockeys getting done for fiddling will never help the game
disagreegetting one over punters as wellwe all know in handicaps what goes on....as a punter most of the time we have to back on form and stats once it goes beyond thatwe are in real troubleand jockeys getting done for fiddling will never help the ga
When I lived in a London a guy came to the house to do some work,he asked me what I did for a living,I told him I backed horses,I have just bought a horse he replied,well a leg in one and it's running the next day at Kempton. He went on to tell me Jim Best bought the syndicate a horse for 5k at Ascot sales,when Best got the horse home he rang them to say the horse was not fit despite running recently.
A few weeks later Best rang them to say the horse was now much fitter and ready to run. The guy told me the horse was fancied and to have a look at it. When he left I looked up the horse it had run something like 41 times and won one race,I thought oh well that's 5k the syndicate had done.
The next day I watched the horse hack up at Kempton at 14/1,it won about another 4-5 races for them and the syndicate never had a bad word to say about the yard
When I lived in a London a guy came to the house to do some work,he asked me what I did for a living,I told him I backed horses,I have just bought a horse he replied,well a leg in one and it's running the next day at Kempton. He went on to tell me Ji
i hope he made enough off the gamble because it looks like its going to be a long ,long while before he can pull the stunt again , now lets hope the bha catch on to the rest of them using the trick
i hope he made enough off the gamble because it looks like its going to be a long ,long while before he can pull the stunt again , now lets hope the bha catch on to the rest of them using the trick
that’s OK for them OWNERS i know where your coming from trd but i am looking at normal everyday punters i just avoid his runners full stop,then i dont get stung unfortunately not everybody can go out and buy a horse
that’s OK for them OWNERSi know where your coming from trd but i am looking at normal everyday punters i just avoid his runners full stop,then i dont get stung unfortunately not everybody can go out and buy a horse
people make me laugh a pal of mine bet hes horse a few mths ago and rang me when it was 5t2 after being 4t1 i told my mate to take the 5t2 hes reply was why should i take 5t2 when its been 4t1 punters you can not help them
people make me laugh a pal of mine bet hes horse a few mths ago and rang me when it was 5t2 after being 4t1 i told my mate to take the 5t2 hes reply was why should i take 5t2 when its been 4t1 punters you can not help them
ekbalko Date Joined: 08 Sep 07 Add contact | Send message 24 Sep 14 12:53 So these horses"that shouldn`t be running"can now have the ar@e layed out of them run like pigs and he has a ready excuseCry
This is his next move imo, and all he will do is blame the BHA for the poor running after it drifting like a barge all day.
ekbalkoDate Joined: 08 Sep 07Add contact | Send message24 Sep 14 12:53So these horses"that shouldn`t be running"can now have the ar@e layed out of them run like pigs and he has a ready excuseCryThis is his next move imo, and all he will do is blam
Biscar Two from a mile back 24 Sep 14 13:45 Joined: 23 Jun 01 | Topic/replies: 4,823 | Blogger: Biscar Two from a mile back's blog Doesn't want the owner to pay £200 for a vet but happy for him to put diesel in the horse box to get to the track and pay a jockey to ride and for racing shoes and anything else that a day at the races brings.WAC of a man thick as pig5hit imho
First thing that I thought of when I read the article...
Not sure that the Racing Post "reporter" thought of that....
Biscar Two from a mile back 24 Sep 14 13:45 Joined: 23 Jun 01 | Topic/replies: 4,823 | Blogger: Biscar Two from a mile back's blogDoesn't want the owner to pay £200 for a vet but happy for him to put diesel in the horse box to get to the track and p
Going back, was Jim Best the conditional jockey (possibly amateur or apprentice) who was challenging for a title and offered to travel with his main rival to the last meeting of the season only to conveniently forget to pick him up?
Going back, was Jim Best the conditional jockey (possibly amateur or apprentice) who was challenging for a title and offered to travel with his main rival to the last meeting of the season only to conveniently forget to pick him up?
Many yards need to gamble to stay afloat, so strokes will be pulled. No trainer is gonna announce to all and sundry that he has a trier/non trier today, so bet accordingly.
If you dislike JB's methods, then dont bet in a race in which he has a runner.
Many yards need to gamble to stay afloat, so strokes will be pulled. No trainer is gonna announce to all and sundry that he has a trier/non trier today, so bet accordingly.If you dislike JB's methods, then dont bet in a race in which he has a runner.