Harry Findlay kept waiting over BHA appeal verdict
Harry Findlay, one of Britain’s biggest professional gamblers and high-profile owners, left an Appeal Board hearing still not knowing if the six-month ban that was imposed upon him will be lifted.
He will have to wait until Thursday morning to learn whether he has been successful in his appeal, which lasted for five hours at the BHA’s London offices.
Findlay was found guilty last month of two charges of laying a horse, Gullible Gordon - who was then owned in a partnership of Findlay's mother, Maggie, and Paul Barber - to lose on betting exchanges in 2008 and 2009.
The BHA brought the charge despite accepting that Findlay had actually staked more money on the horse, Gullible Gordon, winning and that Findlay had no corrupt motive for the wagering. In effect his breach of the Rules appears more of a technicality than an attempted corruption but did contravene the Rule which "debars an owner from laying his horse to lose".
The case centred on two races. When Gullible Gordon ran in a novice hurdle at Exeter in October 2008, at odds of 1-3, Findlay laid him for £17,000 before staking £80,000 on him to win. The horse was well beaten and Findlay made a net loss of £62,000.
The second race was a novice chase at Chepstow in October 2009, which Gullible Gordon won at odds of 4-6. Findlay had staked a total of £64,000 on him to win before the race started but, during the race, an associate, Glenn Gill, who was operating his betting account because Findlay was present at Chepstow, laid off £32,000 at shorter odds. As a result Findlay made a profit of £35,000.
Unlike the original inquiry, at which Findlay represented himself, he had brought an experienced legal team for his appeal with Roderick Moore, a barrister specialising in sports disciplinary matters, and instructing solicitor Daryl Cowan, who presented their case to an independent BHA panel that was chaired by Sir Roger Buckley, along with Christopher Hodgson and Jane Gillies.
If unsuccessful Findlay will be warned off until December 10th but, even if he win his appeal or receives a shorter period of suspension he has already flagged his intention to limit his future involvement in British racing.
Findlay left the hearing without making a comment and a statement from the BHA said: “Today's Appeal Board hearing to consider Harry Findlay's appeal against the Disciplinary Panel's decision has concluded and the Appeal Board are now deliberating. Their decision and reasons will be released tomorrow.”
At Longchamp, Behkabad, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, won the Group One Grand Prix de Paris with a powerful display of stamina on rain-softened ground.
Vivre Libre, acting as pacemaker for Planteur, led the field until early in the home straight. From there Gerald Mosse took up the running on Behkabad, who had finished only fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly last month over an extended 10 furlongs.
The colt was clearly suited by the step up to 12 furlongs as he held off the challenge of Planteur by three-quarters of a length with Aidan O'Brien's Jan Vermeer another five lengths away in third.
Olivier Peslier finished out of the frame on Goldwaki but is now very much in the frame for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 24th. The Frenchman has picked up the coveted spare ride on Harbinger from the Sir Michael Stoute yard.
The ride became available once Stoute’s stable jockey, Ryan Moore, decided to ride Derby winner Workforce in the race. Peslier has ridden for Stoute before in the King George, having finished second to Duke Of Marmalade on Papal Bull in 2008 and riding Ask to finish third behind Conduit and Tartan Bearer in last year's race.
The jockey has also ridden before for Harbinger’s owners, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, whose spokesman, Harry Herbert said: "We are thrilled that Olivier will be riding Harbinger; he is a world class jockey and we have enjoyed a number of successes over the years, including Delilah in The Princess Royal Stakes at Ascot. He will ride Harbinger in a piece of work this weekend and hopefully we are now all set for the big race on the 24th."
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