Jockeys, Trainers Charged by British Jockey Club

The British Jockey Club has charged two jockeys, Gary Carter and Pat McCabe, and a trainer, Shaun Keightley, with holding horses back in flat races following investigations. The cases center on Christopher Coleman, a bettor and London tailor who was warned off for two years in January 2003.

In the current cases, Coleman is said to have placed bets or had other people place them after having obtained information from the jockeys and trainer.

Carter is charged with the commission of a corrupt or fraudulent practice by ensuring certain horses he rode wouldn't run on their merits or win or place in their respective races in the interests of bets made with Betfair, a betting exchange. The charges are tied to eight horses he rode between August and September of last year.

Keightley and McCabe are alleged to have to have conspired to make sure Red Lancer wouldn't win or place when the gelding ran at Wolverhampton in October 2003. Both jockeys and the trainer strongly protest their innocence and accuse the Jockey Club of smearing their names. No dates have been set for the cases to be heard.

The Jockey Club has been conducting a series of investigations into corrupt practice by jockeys, trainers, and others. Its hand has been strengthened by agreements with Betfair, other betting exchanges, and bookmakers that involve opening up bettors' records when fraud is suspected.