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Culhane banned in corruption case
· Top 20 jockey given a one year suspension
· Relatives netted £82,000 from inside information
Tony Paley
Tue 10 Jul 2007 00.02 BST
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Leading jockey Tony Culhane was banned from riding for a year and his weighing-room colleague Dean Mernagh nine months yesterday following an investigation into a number of races between 2003 and 2004.
Culhane, who has been sidelined since a fall at Wolverhampton in April which was likely to have kept him off the track for much of this year anyway, was found in breach of the rule that forbids aiding or abetting individuals to lay or back horses with the benefit of inside information.
Two members of Culhane's family were also disqualified from any involvement in racing after the conclusion of a Horseracing Regulatory Authority security department probe into 37 races during the period from July 2003 to April 2004.
Those individuals were Culhane's brother-in-law and former jump jockey Gary Lyons, and his father-in-law Dave Watkins. The information garnered by Lyons from Culhane and used on internet betting exchange accounts run by Watkins resulted in a profit of over £56,000. Information passed on by Mernagh and used by Watkins netted him and Lyons over £26,000.
Watkins was warned off for five years for using the information received from the two jockeys for his gain on the betting exchanges, and also passing it on to Lyons. Lyons was excluded for two years for similar charges.
The panel took into account Culhane's admission of guilt made at the first directions hearing and his subsequent offer to co-operate against Watkins, and also that he did not pass the information to Lyons knowing what he would do with it.
Watkins was found to be the central figure in the case, only admitting his guilt shortly before the start of the hearing when it was apparent that the other three were all prepared to testify against him.
Culhane has been receiving payments under the registered jockeys' insurance scheme because of the fall that has kept him off the track and the scheme's trustees will now have to decide if those will continue for the period of Culhane's ban.
Meanwhile, Culhane and Mernagh's legal representatives have indicated the jockeys may launch an appeal.
Phil Williams of Evershed Solicitors said: "They are both disappointed with the panel's decision. In particular Tony Culhane has pleaded to being reckless in conversations with family members for which it was accepted Tony Culhane had no financial, or other, reward. They will both consider the appropriateness of the penalties imposed when they have full written reasons. They may appeal."
Watkins was not present at the conclusion of yesterday's hearing, while Lyons had no comment to make.
· Top 20 jockey given a one year suspension
· Relatives netted £82,000 from inside information
Tony Paley
Tue 10 Jul 2007 00.02 BST
Share
Leading jockey Tony Culhane was banned from riding for a year and his weighing-room colleague Dean Mernagh nine months yesterday following an investigation into a number of races between 2003 and 2004.
Culhane, who has been sidelined since a fall at Wolverhampton in April which was likely to have kept him off the track for much of this year anyway, was found in breach of the rule that forbids aiding or abetting individuals to lay or back horses with the benefit of inside information.
Two members of Culhane's family were also disqualified from any involvement in racing after the conclusion of a Horseracing Regulatory Authority security department probe into 37 races during the period from July 2003 to April 2004.
Those individuals were Culhane's brother-in-law and former jump jockey Gary Lyons, and his father-in-law Dave Watkins. The information garnered by Lyons from Culhane and used on internet betting exchange accounts run by Watkins resulted in a profit of over £56,000. Information passed on by Mernagh and used by Watkins netted him and Lyons over £26,000.
Watkins was warned off for five years for using the information received from the two jockeys for his gain on the betting exchanges, and also passing it on to Lyons. Lyons was excluded for two years for similar charges.
The panel took into account Culhane's admission of guilt made at the first directions hearing and his subsequent offer to co-operate against Watkins, and also that he did not pass the information to Lyons knowing what he would do with it.
Watkins was found to be the central figure in the case, only admitting his guilt shortly before the start of the hearing when it was apparent that the other three were all prepared to testify against him.
Culhane has been receiving payments under the registered jockeys' insurance scheme because of the fall that has kept him off the track and the scheme's trustees will now have to decide if those will continue for the period of Culhane's ban.
Meanwhile, Culhane and Mernagh's legal representatives have indicated the jockeys may launch an appeal.
Phil Williams of Evershed Solicitors said: "They are both disappointed with the panel's decision. In particular Tony Culhane has pleaded to being reckless in conversations with family members for which it was accepted Tony Culhane had no financial, or other, reward. They will both consider the appropriateness of the penalties imposed when they have full written reasons. They may appeal."
Watkins was not present at the conclusion of yesterday's hearing, while Lyons had no comment to make.
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He rode a few for me.
A more upright citizen you would struggle to find
A more upright citizen you would struggle to find
Any sign of your P&L today,Aceform?
Of course not.
You are a two bob non betting ponce who only spouts utter pony
Of course not.
You are a two bob non betting ponce who only spouts utter pony
Jan 17, 2026 -- 7:06PM, uptheirons wrote:
Any sign of your P&L today,Aceform?Of course not.You are a two bob non betting ponce who only spouts utter pony
& tell me Mallethead, does your $hit stink ?
For those of us whose first language is English,Eggy?
Jan 17, 2026 -- 7:12PM, uptheirons wrote:
For those of us whose first language is English,Eggy?
It's a simple enough question, which bit dont you get ?
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