Godolphin Face No Further Charges

Godolphin's Moulton Paddocks stable faces no further doping charges after an inquiry concluded banned trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni operated alone.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) found no evidence that anyone other than Al Zarooni was involved in the distribution of anabolic steroids.

However, the BHA said "structural and procedural deficiencies" at the stable in Newmarket must be addressed.

Al Zarooni is serving an eight-year banafter 22 horses tested positive.

Charlie Appleby, Al Zarooni's assistant, has assumed control of Moulton Paddocks with immediate effect and has already begun implementing some procedural changes alongside fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

The BHA said it was happy Appleby had no knowledge of Al Zarooni's wrongdoings.

Paul Bittar, chief executive of the BHA, said: "The investigation process has been a complex and challenging one. However, I am satisfied that the conclusions reached are an accurate reflection of events.

"Fortunately cases such as this - both in terms of scale and profile - are incredibly rare, however there are areas where we can learn from the issues raised."

The scandal - described as the biggest in racing history - became public on 22 April when Godolphin issued a statement in which it said 11 horses, including unbeaten 1000 Guineas contender Certify, had tested positive and Al Zarooni admitted a "catastrophic error".

At a subsequent disciplinary hearing, the trainer was banned for eight years after also admitting to doping another four horses.

Seven more racehorses trained by Al Zarooni then failed tests for anabolic steroids on 20 May, including 2012 St Leger winner Encke.

Related articles

• BHA will make no new charges in Godolphin steroids doping case
• Godolphin to face no further action as BHA attempts to draw line under Mahmood Al Zarooni doping case
• Scandal of Godolphin trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni's doping still festers | Greg Wood
• Second trainer faces drugs charges
• BHA report into Zarooni doping scandal: What is there to hide?
• Godolphin management criticised for lack of accountability in British Horseracing Authority report

Frankel Best in 25 Years

Frankel has been ranked as the world's best horse for at least the last 25 years by British Horseracing Authority handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill.

Victory in Saturday's JLT Lockinge Stakesat Newbury saw Frankel's rating increased to 138 pounds.

The ranking of Prince Khalid Abdullah's unbeaten, 10-time winner is only bettered by the same owner's Dancing Brave, which ranked 141 in 1986.

"I do think he can go even higher," Gardiner-Hill said.

"I do suspect he can be a 140-horse, it just depends if he gets the opportunity."

The World Thoroughbred Rankings scale has been lowered slightly since 1986, meaning Frankel could be ranked similar to Dancing Brave.

His rating, which still has to be ratified by Gardiner-Hill's international colleagues, is two pounds higher than last year, moving him above Peintre Celebre and Generous on 137 and Sea The Stars on 136.

Trainer Sir Henry Cecil wants Frankel's next outing to be the Queen Anne at Ascot and told his official website: "Over the last two seasons he has come on a good deal from his first race and hopefully he will do the same this season."

Frankel's wins

13 Aug 2010 at Newmarket - bt Nathaniel by 1/2 length

10 Sep 2010 at Doncaster - bt Rainbow Springs by 13 lengths

25 Sep 2010 at Ascot Royal Lodge Stakes- bt Klammer by 10 lengths

16 Oct 2010 at Newmarket Dewhurst Stakes - bt Roderic O'Connor by 2¼ lengths

16 Apr 2011 at Newbury Greenham Stakes- bt Excelebration by 4 lengths

30 Apr 2011 at Newmarket 2000 Guineas - bt Dubawi Gold by 6 lengths

14 Jun 2011 at Ascot St James's Palace Stakes - bt Zoffany by ¾ length

27 Jul 2011 at Goodwood Sussex Stakes - bt Canford Cliffs by 5 lengths

15 Oct 2011 at Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - bt Excelebration by 4 lengths

19 May 2012 at Newbury JLT Lockinge Stakes - bt Excelebration by 5 lengths.

BHA Rebuke National Jockeys

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has written to all 40 riders expressing its disappointment at their conduct at the start of the Grand National.

Hughes Loses BHA India Appeal

Top jockey Richard Hughes has failed in his appeal to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to overturn a 50-day ban incurred in India.

Hughes was suspended in February for reportedly not riding to instructions in a race in Mumbai, an offence that is not punishable under British rules.

The BHA chose to recognise the ban and upheld that decision at an appeal.

The Irishman will not be able to compete in Britain until 30 April, when the Mumbai season finishes.

It has dented the 39-year-old's hopes of winning a first jockeys' championship.

Hughes missed a big victory at Newmarket on Wednesday when Esentepe won the Nell Gwyn Stakes.

The jockey said on Twitter that he was bemused by the ban, and disappointed not to win the appeal.

"I thought I could have confidence in the UK system on fairness," he said.

"BHA has backed an opinion that I did not let a horse run on its merits without any evidence."

Jamie Stier, the director of raceday operations and regulation for the BHA, said he felt some sympathy for Hughes but believed it was correct to uphold the suspension imposed by the Royal Western India Turf Club.

"We would like to register on record that we recognise the frustration felt by Richard Hughes about this episode," he said.

“Disappointed on losing appeal. Still don't know why I'm banned”Jockey Richard Hughes on Twitter

"The BHA stands behind the principle of reciprocity of penalties among recognised international racing bodies. Without reciprocity, there is a risk of there being no effective measures to deter visiting participants from breaching the rules of the respective authority.

"Similar applications to those lodged by Richard Hughes are, thankfully, few and far between.

"However, we will be looking to see if there are any lessons to learn that may assist the handling of such matters in the future."

Hughes spent winters in India for much of his career and enjoyed success there, winning all four Classics on the filly Jacqueline in 2009 and 2010.

However, he has vowed not to return after a troubled stay earlier in the year. In January he was given a lengthy suspension for "foul riding", which was reduced to a fine on appeal.

Hughes has never won the British title but pushed Paul Hanagan all the way to the last day of the season in 2010.

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National Under Renewed Scrutiny

Britain's gruelling Grand National has came under renewed fire after the death of two horses at the notorious Becher's Brook fence prompted passionate calls for a radical safety review.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised and According to Pete were both put down after falling at Becher's Brook, taking the total of fatalities at this year's three-day Aintree meeting to three.

The tragedy overshadowed a thrilling race where 33/1 shot Neptunes Collonges became the first grey to win the most famous race on the British calendar since Nicolaus Silver in 1961 when it pipped Sunnyhillboy in the closest finish in the National's 173-year history.

Two horses also died in the 2011 Grand National, leading officials at the course to modify the daunting Becher's challenge.

"The death of two horses at the Grand National, bringing the total to three at the Aintree meeting, is totally unacceptable," Gavin Grant, the chief executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) told the BBC.

"In its current format, the risks to horses are not appropriate and we want an urgent examination of the Grand National, including a number of fences such as Becher's Brook, where horses are continuing to die despite safety improvements."

Synchronised had already shown signs of distress before the race started when the nine-year-old unseated veteran jockey Tony McCoy.

The horse, who was looking to become the first horse to win the Gold Cup and Grand National since the legendary Golden Miller in 1934, broke away and it was several minutes before animal and jockey were reunited, delaying the start of the race by 10 minutes.

In a damage-limitation exercise, Aintree owners, as well as the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), moved to confront the gathering storm.

Tim Morris, the director of equine science and welfare for the BHA, said: "In both cases the horse incurred a fracture to the leg and the humane option was to put the injured horses down."

He added: "We will examine closely the circumstances which led to both incidents. The key data from these accidents will be collated, as is the BHA's policy in the event of any serious equine injury.

"Each year the BHA and Aintree review all incidents which occur during the Grand National meeting and consider what measures can be taken to address the risk of a repeat in the future."

David Muir, an equine consultant to the RSPCA, told The Guardian that drop fences - those like Becher's on one side of which the ground is lower than on the other side - should be removed before next year's race.

"I think the Grand National has a future if it changes and makes the risk factors lower and more acceptable," Muir said.

"If racing is to continue, racing must realise that people are concerned about horse fatalities on racecourses and the impetus to reduce the risk factor has to be greater."

For Synchronised's trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, the drama brought back the awful memory of when he rode Gold Cup winner Alverton in the 1979 National.

That horse also came to grief at Becher's and was also put down.

The winning owner, John Hales, spoke movingly about the mixed emotions he had at his horse's victory, 14 years after his much-loved gelding One Man died in the race.

"It split the family coming here," Hales said. "My wife was 50-50, my daughter couldn't face it. She has gone show jumping and is overcome with emotion."

Winning traner Paul Nicholls cautioned against making too many changes to the race.

"When you are in competitive sport, whatever you do, motor racing, hockey there is an element of risk," Nicholls told the BBC.

"The worst thing you can do is to go too far. You make the fences smaller, they go faster and you get more fallers.

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Milczarek Wins BHA Appeal

Kirsty Milczarek is free to ride again after succeeding in her appeal against a two-year ban imposed by the British Horseracing Authority in December.

A BHA corruption investigation found Milczarek in breach of two rules relating to her ride aboard Obe Gold at Lingfield on 15 August 2009.

But the appeal board said in a statement that the original decision "cannot stand and her appeal succeeds".

BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey confirmed she could now reapply for her licence.

"As soon as she reapplies and all the paperwork is sorted she will be able to ride," Mounsey commented.

Milczarek was found in breach of the old Rule 201 (v), which concerned anyone who is "guilty of or conspires with any other person for the commission of, or connives at any other person being guilty of, any corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing in this or any other country".

She had also been found in breach of former Rule 243, which concerned "passing information for reward", following the conclusion of a lengthy investigation into a betting ring said by the BHA to have been masterminded by two registered owners, Maurice Sines and James Crickmore.

Milczarek had reportedly been told Obe Gold could be difficult in the stalls and not to take the blindfold off until the last possible moment, but the panel found that she removed it four seconds before the stalls opened.

By the time the stalls opened, the horse dived to its left - slamming her shoulder into the upright causing an injury which the disciplinary panel said would then have affected her ride.

At the initial disciplinary panel hearing, Milczarek was found not guilty of a breach of Rule 157 (intentionally failing to ensure that a horse is run on its merits) but in breach of Rule 201 (v).

Her solicitor, Christopher Stewart-Moore, said: "She's very gratified.

"I think they may fast-track her licence application as obviously she has been banned for a period of time that she shouldn't have been. She will technically have to reapply."

Paul Scotney, director of integrity services, compliance and licensing for the BHA, said in a statement: "We accept the decision of the appeal board to allow the appeal of Kirsty Milczarek.

"It is the role of the appeal board to consider such appeals and additional evidence when presented.

"However, we stand by the original decision to include the race as one of the 10 under scrutiny on account of the extraordinary betting patterns and the pattern of communication around the race."

As a consequence of Milczarek's successful appeal, the penalties for both Sines and Crickmore were reduced to 13 years disqualification, from the original penalty of 14 years.

Unlicensed individual Nick Gold had the disciplinary panel ruling that his exclusion should not be considered for seven years reduced to five years.

Original bans

Paul Doe - jockey - 12 years

Greg Fairley - jockey - 12 years

Jimmy Quinn - jockey - six months

Kirsty Milczarek - jockey - two years

Maurice "Fred" Sines - owner - 14 years

James Crickmore - owner - 14 years

Shaun Harris - associate - three years

David Kendrick - associate - four years

Liam Vasey - associate - five years

Nick Gold - associate - TBA

Peter Gold - associate - TBA

New Whip Rules Allow Discretion

New whip guidelines allow discretion for race stewards

Race stewards will be allowed to use their discretion when new whip rules for jockeys are introduced on Tuesday.

In the more valuable races, riders who breach the guidelines could potentially be fined between £200 and £10,000.

The trigger for stewards to review a rider's use of the whip remains eight times or more for Flat races and nine times or more over jumps.

But, rather than automatically meaning a breach and suspension, stewards will decide whether to hold an inquiry.

The changes are being brought in by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) just seven days before the beginning of the Cheltenham Festival, the four-day centrepiece of the National Hunt calendar.

It is the third time that new rules designed to counter concerns about horses' welfare have been changed after jockeys argued the regulations were too harsh.

"The focus over the coming weeks should be on Cheltenham and Aintree," said BHA chief executive Paul Bittar, "the climax to what has been a fantastic jumps season and then on the start of what promises to be another vintage year for Flat racing."

When deciding whether to hold an inquiry, stewards must consider the rider's use of the whip during the course of an entire race.

They will particularly focus on the closing stages of a race and relevant factors such as such as the manner in which the whip was used, including the purpose and degree of force.

Stewards may choose to disregard occasions when the whip was used, for instance, to keep a horse in contention, maintain focus and concentration, and to correct a horse that is noticeably hanging.

Under the revised penalties, a rider found to have used his whip once over the permitted level will be suspended for two days, while two times over will incur a four-day ban and three times over a seven-day suspension, with each extra usage adding two days to the penalty.

Fines can be imposed in jump races worth £20,000 or more and Flat races worth £27,500 or more, and repeat offenders will be referred to the BHA's disciplinary panel.

Jamie Stier, the BHA's director of raceday regulation and operations, who will be working with the jockeys, said: "The revised rules give jockeys the opportunity to use the whip sensibly, and the stewards now have discretion when reviewing a rider's use of the whip.

"Their focus will rightly be on the manner in which the whip is used. I have confidence in both the jockeys and stewards to apply their judgement judiciously in this matter.

"It is important that riders do not misinterpret the ability of stewards to exercise discretion as a reason to use their whip more than they do at present."

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys' Association, said the new approach needed to be closely monitored.

"Hopefully this can now be the start of everyone's focus being on the sport itself, as opposed to the regulation of it," he said.

BHA Whip Changes for Festival

Sweeping changes to the controversial whip rules are set to come into effect before the Cheltenham Festival.

In his first major challenge since being appointed the British Horseracing Authority's new chief executive, Paul Bittar proposed fresh amendments which were approved at a board meeting on Tuesday.

The board has given the thumbs-up to a fundamental change to the rules governing use of the whip, which is due to be implemented in early March, together with revisions to the existing penalty structure, which come into effect on Thursday.

Rather than it being an automatic breach when a rider uses the whip eight times on the Flat and nine times over jumps, the figures become the trigger point for the stewards to review the ride in question.

Stewards will then consider how the rider has used the whip in the course of exceeding the allowed number before deciding whether a breach has occurred and a penalty is warranted.

Bittar said: "Over four months have passed since the introduction of the first set of rules following the whip review.

"Despite a number of changes to both the rule and the accompanying penalty structure it is clear that while many objectives of the review are being met, and in particular those pertaining to horse welfare, a rule which polices the use of the whip based solely on a fixed number of strikes is fundamentally flawed.

"While well intentioned, and in accordance with initial requests from the jockeys for clarity and consistency via a fixed number, in practice the new rules have repeatedly thrown up examples of no consideration being given to the manner in which the whip is used as well as riders being awarded disproportionate penalties for the offence committed.

"The challenge is to have in place a rule and penalty structure which meets the objectives for fairness and proportionality outlined in the Whip Review while retaining the positives which have been a product of the changes to date.

"These include the virtual removal of all serious breaches and an overall reduction in the number of offences.

"We are confident there is not a welfare problem associated with the use of the cushioned whip in British racing.

"The objective of this proposal is to keep jockeys riding to a similar standard as they are now with regard to their significantly reduced use of the whip, but with added discretion and common sense applied by stewards when considering whether a rider is in breach of the rules."

Bittar's aim has been to try to prevent the Cheltenham Festival being overshadowed by the issue that has dogged the sport under both codes since last October.

Bittar Wants BHA Whip Rule Ended

Paul Bittar, the recently installed chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, wants the controversy over the new whip rules ended before the Cheltenham Festival.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy became the latest high-profile rider to fall foul of the new regulations on Thursday, being handed a four-day ban after dead-heating for first place at Leicester.

A further whip suspension could see him miss the big meeting at Prestbury Park next month.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, Bittar said: “I’m hopeful of a sensible resolution to the whip issue pre-Cheltenham.

“I have no interest in one of our rules being the public focus of the sport during a great festival like Cheltenham or Aintree, so we’re hoping to have that resolved and get a sensible outcome on that.

“It will mean we probably have a short bedding-in period pre-Cheltenham, but, to be honest, I think the risks associated with going into Cheltenham not having made change outweigh the risks of perhaps having a short bedding-in period.

“The key issues for us are those ones that have been raised a couple of times before, the main one being the proportionality of the penalties as they relate to the breaches.

“I think, in general, the riders have made a huge effort to fall into line with the new rules, but I think that it’s unarguable that the penalty structure doesn’t quite fit the crime.

“The other aspect is just getting probably some more common-sense outcomes and better use of discretion on raceday from stewards.

“I think if we can resolve those two issues, which are two main issues for riders, the other aspects are kind of incidental, so they are the main issues of focus.”

Walsh Ban Offers Hennessy Chance

Ruby Walsh lost his appeal against a three-day ban incurred for careless riding at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He was found guilty of interference when partnering Pearl Swan to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial.

While his mount beat Grumeti by a short head, the two horses got very close in the finish and the stewards opted to reverse the places and ban Walsh.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) dismissed his appeal at a hearing on Thursday.

Walsh will noe miss out on riding Zarkandar, last year's Triumph Hurdle winner, in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on 11 February.

He had said before the ban: "You'd never be optimistic [of getting it overturned], but I didn't think it warranted a three-day ban.

"It was very minimal interference and a very minimal offence, if I'm guilty of an offence."

Nicky Lander from the BHA said on Thursday: "I can confirm that Ruby Walsh's appeal against his three-day ban has been dismissed."

The BHA later tweeted that Walsh had successfully requested to defer the second day of his suspension, 12 February, due to there being Grade One action in Ireland.

He will now be free to ride at the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup meeting at Leopardstown and is banned on February 11, 13 and 14.

Walsh left London immediately to catch a flight back to Ireland where he was booked to ride last year's Grand National sixth The Midnight Club at Clonmel later on Thursday.

He tweeted: "Lost appeal but made flight hopefully the midnight club can bring some good out of the day!"

Ruby Appeals Cheltenham Ban

Ruby Walsh has appealed against a three-day ban incurred for careless riding at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He was found guilty of causing interference when partnering Pearl Swan to be first past the post in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial.

While he beat Grumeti by a short head, the two horses got very close in the finish and the stewards opted to reverse the places and ban Walsh.

The British Horseracing Authority will hear the appeal on Thursday morning/

Unless it is lifted, Walsh will miss out on riding Zarkandar in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on 11 February.

"You'd never be optimistic [of getting it overturned], but I didn't think it warranted a three-day ban," Walsh told At The Races.

"It was very minimal interference and a very minimal offence, if I'm guilty of an offence."

BHA CEO Speaks of New Rules

The new chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, Paul Bittar, has indicated the controversial penalty structure for jockeys who break new whip rules could be eased.

The rules were brought in following the death of two horses at the 2011 Grand National but have attracted criticism.

"The implementation of the rules has been a challenge for us," said Bittar.

"Getting the proportion of the penalty aligned with the level of breach is the challenge we face."

Jockeys have claimed that penalties for breaking the new rules, announced in September before being amended the following month and again in November, are too severe.

The row over their implementation appeared to be simmering down before Christmas, however, the controversy was reignited when over 100 days of suspensions, including a seven-day whip ban for Will Kennedy who won the prestigious Lanzarote Hurdle on Saturday, were handed down, seven of them following the weekend feature.

Bittar, who only took up his post on Wednesday, insisted that while immediate changes are unlikely, he conceded that the current levels of punishment don't fit the crime.

He was meeting Kevin Darley, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, on Friday to discuss the situation.

"It's fair to say they've been somewhat contentious and as it's my third day in the office it would be fairly premature of me to suggest where we might get to today [Friday] at the meeting with the PJA," added Bittar. "[But] I won't be shy about making changes.

"By and large the rules have been successfully implemented.

"The biggest challenge now for us is getting the proportion of the penalties aligned when they breach the rules.

"What we've seen is that the number of offences has dropped by around 14% in the period over the last couple of months.

"What's concerning us are the breaches that are one or two over, we've seen a big drop in where they are a significant number of hits over."

NEW WHIP RULES

Jockeys can use the whip seven times in Flat races and eight times over jumps

Jockeys exceeding the limit by one strike will be suspended

Exceeding the limit by more than one strike will mean the jockey forfeits a share of prize money