Jim Best will be allowed to continue racing his horses pending an appeal against recent findings that he was guilty of corruption charges. The trainer, based in Lewes, contests a decision by racing’s ruling body that he prevented two of his horses from being run on their merits and pressured a young and vulnerable jockey into stopping them.
Anthony Boswood QC, who sits on the British Horseracing Authority’s appeal board, heard an application by Best on Thursday evening for a stay on the four-year ban announced on Monday. According to a member of the trainer’s legal team, the stay was granted, allowing Best to continue to have runners, perhaps as soon as Newcastle’s card on Friday, where he has Ace Fighter Pilot entered.
The BHA had opposed the stay of penalty. While their reasons for doing so have not been made public, they are believed to be based on the gravity of Best’s offences and a desire to protect the sport’s reputation.
Best was given a four-year ban after a disciplinary panel ruled he had coerced the jockey Paul John into stopping Echo Brava at Plumpton on 14 December and Missile Man at Towcester on 17 December. John claimed Best had told him to stop the horses. Best said the jockey was attempting to save his own career by lying.
