A JOCKEY banned from racing for his role in the ‘biggest race-fixing storm ever’ was beaten by a 40-1 outsider on his first ride back in 14 years.
Greg Fairley beat William Buick to the Champion Apprentice title in 2007 and looked all set for superstardom in the saddle.
Greg Fairley was banned for 12 years for his role in a race-fixing storm… but returned for the first time at Ayr on Monday[/caption]
He would go onto Group 1 glory and massive prize money earnings of £2.8million on the track over a few short years, banging in 381 winners in Britain alone.
But his career looked done and dusted in 2011 when he was hit with a colossal ban for two of the most serious rules breaches.
He was found guilty of riding a horse to lose – ‘failing to obtain the best possible placing’ – and passing on inside information for reward.
A total of 11 people were sanctioned by the BHA for what at the time was called the ‘largest race-fixing ring ever exposed in British racing history’.
Fairley and fellow jockey Paul Doe were warned off for a dozen years, while two owners were banned for 14 for betting on their horses to lose, ‘corrupting’ jockeys in the process.
Fairley last rode 14 years ago but, having served his time and been regranted a licence by the BHA, he made his comeback at Ayr on Monday.
The ring that led to 66 years of bans – what happened?
By Sam Morgan
GREG Fairley was part of what at the time was called ‘the biggest race-fixing ring ever’ in British racing.
He and fellow rider Paul Doe were hit with 12-year bans following a BHA probe.
While Kirsty Milczarek, who was the girlfriend of six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon, was banned for two years and Jimmy Quinn got a six-month suspension.
Five others – Nick Gold, Peter Gold, Shaun Harris, David Kendrick and Liam Vasey – were also found guilty of ‘corrupt or fraudulent practice’.
Vasey, Kendrick and Harris were banned for five, four and three years respectively, while the Golds were later banned for seven and five years respectively as part of a separate investigation.
The probe found that owners Maurice ‘Fred’ Sines and James Crickmore – who were given the biggest 14-year bans – were the leaders of the ring that netted almost £280,000 from ten races.
The case all centred around horses being backed to lose races between January and August 2009.
BHA director Paul Scotney said at the time: “The investigation uncovered a network through which Sines and Crickmore engaged in betting activity, in particular with two riders, Paul Doe and Greg Fairley, that impacted on seven of the 10 races in question.
“In the BHA’s history, the scale and complexity of this case is unprecedented.”
Fairley, who would go onto become a tree surgeon, found more controversy after the ban.
There were calls for him to repay £1,500 spent on teaching him to how to use a chainsaw as part of a jockeys’ retraining scheme.
But it was later deemed ‘impractical’ to pursue him for the money.
Scottish trainer Iain Jardine gave Fairley, who in his own words ran away’ back home to Scotland to run a tree surgery business before the BHA announced his ban, the ride on 4-1 Superior Council.
The six-year-old gelding, who had finished first and second on his two most recent starts, had been backed into as short as 3-1 before drifting slightly before the off.
But despite jumping well from the stalls he found little in the 6f race and finished eighth pf 16.
Former Amo Racing jockey Kevin Stott was on the winner – two-time Grand National champ Lucinda Russell’s 40-1 South Road.
In a statement written before his return, Fairley addressed his past ban and said it’s all now behind him as he focuses on winning again.
Fairley wrote: “Fifteen years ago I chose a path that was wrong and paid a justifiably significant price for my poor decisions.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the licencing committee of the BHA for giving me a second chance.
“I would also like to thank Sandy Thomson, Iain Jardine and Charlie and Mark Johnston who have all been very supportive.”
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