Fairley to retire,Doe retires over fixing claims

UrbanSea

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From the racingpost

SPECULATION that former champion apprentice Greg Fairley has quit racing intensified on Thursday night after he failed to appear at the opening of the corruption inquiry in London that threatens to end his career.

Paul Doe, another jockey involved in the inquiry, was also missing and revealed he had retired. He said he failed to appear on Thursday because of a back problem but plans toattend Friday's session.

The pair, together with fellow riders Kirsty Milczarek and Jimmy Quinn and jockey-turned-trainer Paul Fitzsimons, all face the prospect of lengthy bans from the sport following a race-fixing investigation centred on the betting activities of registered owners Maurice Sines and James Crickmore.

Milczarek and Quinn were both present on Thursday as the BHA outlined its case.

Fairley, who has not ridden since the Catterick meeting on September 17, and his mother Kate, who acts as his agent, have been unwilling to talk to the Racing Post this week, but rumours are rife that the 23-year-old is preparing to leave Middleham and return to his native Scotland to work as a tree surgeon.

This year he has gained certificates in chainsaw use, tree-felling and aerial rescue after successfully completing courses organised by the Jockeys' Employment Training Scheme.

A graduate of the flapping circuit in the Scottish borders, Fairley appeared to have the world at his feet after landing the apprentice crown in 2007 under the tutelage of Mark Johnston. He rode a personal-best 85 winners in 2009 and secured his first Group 1 success on Lady Jane Digby in Munich last year.

But he has not ridden in a race for Johnston since June 8 after his mother complained about him being sent to far-flung meetings rather than employed closer to home. Until recently he continued riding out for the yard, where his father Andrew is a work-rider.

Fairley has struggled for mounts since midsummer and 17 of his 21 winners this term came before the announcement of the BHA charges in May.

Johnston admitted he was not surprised by his former protege's non-appearance at the High Holborn proceedings.

"We haven't seen him here for a few weeks and I don't really know what's going on, but it sort of fits with his attitude to riding [for me], which Inever quite understood either," Johnston said.

Doe, 34, remains determined to mount a vigorous defence despite ending his 17-year career. He bowed out quietly at Brighton on September 12.

"I couldn't go today because I was feeling decrepit, but I will be there tomorrow," he said on Thursday. "I can't ride any more due to my back problems and I could easily say I'm not bothered about it, but at the end of the day it's my name and I want to defend myself.

"I will be representing myself, which is a joke when I'm up against all those QCs and barristers, but I couldn't afford a lawyer. They were talking telephone numbers.

"I think the whole thing is unfair, but I don't want to put my head in the sand and let them crack on. I want to tell them my part of the story."

Doe rode more than 400 winners, with the highlights being the 2004 Ayr Gold Cup on Funfair Wane and a valuable handicap with Illustrious Blue at the Dubai Carnival four years ago.

He missed ten months last year with sciatica and, after making a comeback, the condition flared up again following a fall at Kempton.

"I knew I couldn't ride again after that day at Brighton, but my retirement was very low-key and I didn't want any fuss," Doe said.

The BHA has thrown a cloak of secrecy over the case, which is expected to last ten days, and refuses to say which of the 13 accused are attending.

But it is understood Milczarek's presence is required on only one day. She is riding at Newbury on Friday afternoon and Wolverhampton in the evening, and both Milczarek and Quinn have booked mounts on Saturday.

finbarrk

I wonder have the BHA their work done right this time?
If they haven't it will be embarrising.

UrbanSea

Sounds like a big claim.


I'd imagine this happens a lot more than it's documented though.

UrbanSea

This seems to have gotten very little news time.

Fairley and Doe banned for 12 years. Kirty got 2 years,Jimmy Quinn 6 months

mike65

Flat season news!

UrbanSea

I disagree,this is the biggest scandal of the year, could just have easily have been jump jockeys.

JimDeChamp

Disgrace how a racing authority can treat their own... The bha should be ashamed

hucklebuck

They need to throw the book at all the jockies, owners and trainers and clean up the sport.

Great week for finding P Does guilty :pac: