Kevin Ackerman, the chief executive of Towcester racecourse, and the licensed jockeys Michael Stainton and Claire Murray are among five individuals who will appear before the British Horseracing Authority’s disciplinary panel on Wednesday to face charges under the sport’s anti-corruption rules.
Ackerman, Stainton and Murray are alleged to have conspired to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing, along with David Greenwood and Kenneth Mackay. The charges relate to seven races between November 2011 and March 2012 in which the handicapper Ad Vitam, trained at the time by either David Griffiths or Micky Hammond, was a runner, with either Stainton or Murray in the saddle. Greenwood, who is currently disqualified from racing, is the former owner of Ad Vitam.
The hearing into the charges is expected to last for six days but the BHA’s decision to put the case before its disciplinary committee was strongly criticised on Tuesday by Stewart-Moore Solicitors Ltd, who will represent both Greenwood and Ackerman.
“Mr Greenwood and Mr Ackerman are extremely concerned by their treatment at the hands of the BHA,” the statement said. “This firm, having represented Mr Greenwood in two prior sets of failed proceedings brought by the BHA, shares those concerns. Mr Ackerman is merely collateral damage in the BHA’s increasingly desperate and apparently endless pursuit of Mr Greenwood.
“In High Court proceedings brought by the BHA last year the BHA’s head of legal gave seriously misleading evidence supported by a signed statement of truth. The BHA’s claim collapsed before trial and the BHA paid Mr Greenwood’s costs. Similarly the BHA’s case against Mr Greenwood in the recent Rumble Of Thunder inquiry collapsed before the matter got to a hearing and again the BHA paid Mr Greenwood’s wasted costs. Inexplicably the BHA’s case in this latest inquiry relies almost entirely upon the evidence of the same individual who wrongly implicated Kate Walton in a conspiracy in the Rumble Of Thunder inquiry.
“Needless to say, both of our clients strenuously deny any wrongdoing. In light of the extraordinary manner in which the BHA has conducted itself in this matter, Ian Winter QC will be making an application on behalf of Messrs Ackerman and Greenwood that the matter should be struck out as an abuse of process and submitting that they cannot be given a fair hearing.
“Frankly, the fact that the BHA has waited until less than 24 hours before the beginning of the hearing to announce [the latest charges concerning] Mr Greenwood speaks volumes.”
The British Horseracing Authority later issued a statement in response to the claims by Stewart-Moore Solicitors Ltd.
“As a rule we do not comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation or scheduled hearing,” a BHA spokesman said, “but the BHA strongly refutes the allegations made by Stewart-Moore Solicitors Ltd on behalf of Mr Greenwood and Mr Ackerman. They are misleading and factually inaccurate and we are considering our position in relation to next steps.”
