Former jockey Danny Brock was found guilty on January 17 of racing-related corruption or fraud after a judicial panel found he had been riding to secure defeat. for the sake of the associates who bet on his mount.
Brock, who rode more than 100 winners between 2009 and 2021 but is now working as a greyhound trainer, could face a racing ban when the board meets again on January 19 to consider which penalty applies.
At a disciplinary hearing in December involving nine all-weather races from December 2018 to September 2019 that he decided not to attend, Brock was reportedly at the center of what was described as an “unusual” plot involving the assistant coach. Sean McBride, Luke Olley, Eugene Maloney, Andrew Perring and Luke Howells.
Seven of the races are examined by the participation panel Mochalov, a riding Brock rode eight times, winning once and runner-up twice, sometimes aided by participating gamblers and sometimes placed. The panel concluded that there was a difference in the way Brock rode the horse that suited that bet.
“It is hard to believe that Mr Brock has engaged in these inappropriate trips for his private entertainment,” the panel said. “It’s clear that he deliberately misplaced his horse and that his associates’ bets were not coincidental. There is nothing to explain why gamblers are lined up in races that don’t work. he Brock didn’t try and support in the races he was in.”
The panel offered lengthy criticisms of Brock’s continued kettle during a match race in Southwell when his accomplices put together a five-figure bet on the other lone runner. Brock was found to have been late in removing the hood and subsequently made “no serious effort” other than “a slight push a long way from home.”
McBride, who supports his father, Charlie, at a stable in Newmarket, is said to be a longtime friend of Brock and is in daily contact with him.
Betting evidence shows he deposited £7,200 on the day of Samovar’s race, the largest deposit he has ever made, and put all of that money on the only other runner dick dick, who won 10 lengths with an SP of 2-5. McBride is said to have told the council he was chasing losses and that Tricky Dicky was the only chance he could find. He denied having discussed the race with Brock.
But a BHA betting investigator told the panel there were three other runners with odds on that day, and added that McBride’s betting history typically doesn’t focus on high-stakes shots. odds. Taking that into account, coupled with the fact that the stakes were unusually large on McBride, the panel decided not to believe the accused man.
Speaking to the Racing Post on Tuesday, Brock denied the findings in their entirety and specifically made an exception to the panel’s view of his ride on Samovar.
“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “I stayed away from the whole thing. The picture that was made of me was completely ridiculous.
“Samovar is the most awkward horse I’ve ever ridden, and it’s very, very awkward for many other jockeys. The horse had six or seven stall tickets (for causing trouble in the first place).
“The blind man appeared completely perfect. If it had been earlier, the horse would have been worse. Any time later, it would have been even worse. Then they said I didn’t push the horse until it came out. outside. The horse has been pushed out three long hairs.”
Brock said he regrets not being part of the hearing but added that he needs to focus on his new job as a greyhound trainer, a job he hopes will be allowed to continue. , not interested in returning to racing despite the jury’s punishment. Thursday.
The UK’s Greyhound Council said it was aware of the panel’s ruling and would consider any impact after knowing all information, including penalties.
Olley, Maloney, Perring and Howells are all banned from racing in 2020 for refusing to cooperate with the BHA investigation. However, the jury has now found that there are no provable charges against Olley, given all the unanswered questions regarding him, including why he I gave two horses to a woman described as Brock’s partner.
McBride was the only one of the men charged with cooperating at every stage and giving evidence before the panel. Charlie McBride said Tuesday he advised his son not to comment until after Thursday’s hearing.
