Bent trainer and Jockey inquiry

Love it when they get caught

Pair accused of 'very deliberate' stopping of Southwell runner
BY JON LEES 1:22PM 17 JUL 2017
Former jockey Adam Carter was accused of carrying out "a very deliberate pre-meditated stop of a horse", which he claimed was on the instructions of trainer John Wainwright and John Wright, at a BHA disciplinary inquiry on Monday.

Carter dropped the Wainwright-trained Blazeofenchantment in last place in a Southwell handicap in June 2014, restrained the horse to stay there and "makes no effort in the race at all", according to Louis Weston, the barrister representing the BHA.

The jockey, who had 457 career rides, told the stewards on the day: "I just froze."

Wainwright was critical of the ride afterwards, saying the jockey had not followed instructions and that he was "not really up to it" due to personal issues.

But by the time Carter gave a second interview to investigators he issued a prepared statement in which he claimed he had made a deliberate effort not to ride the horse on its merits based on instructions received from Wainwright and Wright on the way to the race meeting and in the paddock before the race.

Weston said it was for the disciplinary panel to decide whether Wainwright's account was correct or Carter's but added the "real lack of effort suggests it was quite deliberate".

Malton trainer Wainwright and Wright, who is not a registered or licensed person, are charged along with Carter of conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice in agreeing to ensure Blazeofenchantment did not run on its merits.

The horse finished seventh of nine in the Southwell race on his first start for the stable, for which he was sent off a 4-1 chance.

Wainwright and Wright both deny the charges.

Stable employee Paul Bradley and Peter Bennett, who is also not registered or licensed, are alleged to have known of the conspiracy and used the inside information to gain an advantage on the betting markets.

The panel was told that Bradley has accepted the charge but denies receiving any benefit, which the BHA does not accept. Bennett has told the BHA he has no case to answer but the BHA said there is a compelling case against him.

Weston produced a timeline showing a number of phone calls between Carter and Bradley, who then called Bennett, who placed a telephone bet and "bets in a way he has never bet before".

Although Carter claimed the final stopping instructions were given by Wainwright in the parade ring, Weston claimed "the die was cast" on the journey down when he was handed a pink phone to speak to Wright.

"This was not a case of a sleepy, inept ride, it was a very deliberate pre-meditated stop of a horse," Weston said.

Carter is expected to give evidence on Tuesday.