Racing’s independent judicial panel has been rocked by the sudden resignation of William Norris QC after a training session on Monday that was expected to be routine but instead proved divisive.
Brian Barker QC, who has chaired the panel since it was set up in 2017, arranged for its members to receive some training in race-reading via Zoom, apparently in the hope that it might assist them in their work of judging the sport’s disciplinary matters, but Norris was sufficiently displeased by the presentation to tender his resignation the next day.
It is understood the race-reading session included analysis of some cases decided during the past two years by panel members who were listening in, and that the analysis did not fully agree with all of the verdicts. This appears to have become something of a flashpoint over the following days.
Norris in particular is believed to have objected to the criticism of past decisions in front of those who made them. His unease was compounded by the fact it occurred in front of representatives of jockeys and trainers: Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, and Dawn Bacchus, a legal executive with the National Trainers Federation, were both in the meeting as observers.
It is understood Norris was also concerned, at first, with the question of whether the British Horseracing Authority had any input into the race‑reading session, which would have been inappropriate because the BHA writes the sport’s rules and presents prosecutions before the panel. Barker quickly clarified that “the BHA had no role in the arrangement or content of the race-reading session”, which Norris has accepted.
Asked to comment on Norris’s resignation, Barker said: “This remains an ongoing issue and I am continuing to speak to the parties involved and want to work through that process privately before commenting further.” Norris, Struthers and Bacchus all declined to discuss the week’s events.
A former amateur jockey in jump racing and point to points, Norris has been “highly praised for his heavy-hitting advocacy”, according to Chambers’ guide to the legal profession. He was also appointed to the Football Association’s judicial panel in 2018.
Monday’s best bets
I love a bit of low-key racing but nine jumpers’ bumpers at Lingfield is not the most attractive fare. Still, that’s what we have, following the abandonment of the jumps card at Sedgefield, where the frost hasn’t come out of the ground in time.
Zamperini (1.15) is the one that appeals most. Gary Moore’s chestnut had a poor January, starting twice at huge odds and being pulled up both times, the heavy ground being a real problem. But he won handily on his previous start, on a fast surface at Plumpton in September, and the need here for a soupcon of speed means he is a live runner once more.
He’s run well in Flat races at Lingfield in the past and broke his maiden on Wolverhampton’s Tapeta some years back. This is not a hot contest and he’s only 9-4.
Lingfield 12.15 Finest View 12.45 Independence 1.15 Zamperini (nap) 1.45 Sometimes Always 2.15 Heart Of A Lion 2.50 Ar Mest (nb) 3.20 Galileo Silver 3.50 Sashenka 4.20 Ballinsker
Wolverhampton 4.40 Bumble Beee 5.10 My Girl Maggie 5.40 Indian Pursuit 6.10 Moonbootz 6.40 Pholas 7.10 Red Poppy 7.40 Destacado
Sedgefield Abandoned - track is frozen
From the same yard and at similar odds, Ar Mest (2.50) looks another likely sort. Chasing on soft ground has not worked out for him but the fitting of a visor may make him hard to catch this time.
