Eddie Ahern banned from racing for 10 years

Flat jockey Eddie Ahern has been banned for 10 years, after an inquiry into corrupt practices found him guilty of stopping a horse.

A British Horseracing Authority (BHA) hearing yesterday (22 May) found that Ahern, 35, had failed to ride a horse, Judgethemoment on his merits when he came last of seven at Lingfield in January 2011.

“Stopping a horse is just about the worst breach a jockey can commit,” said the disciplinary panel. Potentially career-ending penalties will follow.”

The Group 1-winning jockey was also found guilty of passing on information for reward, in relation to the laying of four other beaten horses he rode between September 2010 and February 2011.

“Laying” involves betting against a horse to win.

Ahern’s solicitor said he was “absolutely devastated” and would appeal against both the verdict and the harshness of the penalty.

The BHA disciplinary panel also banned the former West Bromwich Albion footballer-turned-owner, Neil Clement, for 15 years, for placing a lay bet on a horse he owned.

Adam Brickell of the BHA said: “The clear message from this, and other cases heard in the last 18 months, should be that the BHA is better equipped than ever at pinpointing and prosecuting malpractice.”

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