Horse Owner banned by Horseracing Authority
16th December, 2009
It was revealed today that the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has given registered owner Leighton Brookes a three-year ban which started last week. It was discovered that he had been wagering on his own horse to lose in an attempt to enhance his profits.
The BHA disqualified Brookes after they investigated and found that he had made a profit of £609 which came solely from wagering money on his personal horses to lose with betting exchange bookies Betfair. Although he was only successfully in winning £609, there was the potential to win nearly £8,000 from him illegal betting, but it appears as though his horses didn’t have what it took to fit in with his scam.
After the BHA found enough evidence to proceed, they requested that Brookes provide them with a copy of his phone bill so that they could discover the accurate results of his actions, but Brookes denied them access and then later failed to turn up to the hearing.
When questioned about the bets placed, Brookes explained that he had set up a joint betting account with Betfair and claimed that he shared it with his close friend. He went on to admit that whilst he had placed a handful of bets on other horses and sports on the account, it was his friend that had repeatedly bet on his horses.
The BHA has banned Brookes for three years, but the scam that is in question may affect his chances of owning a racehorse at the end of his ban. This suggestion follows after a new rule was added to the BHA which explains that if an owner is at any stage in his career found anything other than ‘fit and proper persons’ then he may well be banned from being involved with the horse racing for life.
By Gina
