Ahern among six charged with breaking racing rules

07:52, 20 Dec 2012

Jockey Eddie Ahern and five other individuals have been charged with serious breaches of the rules of racing.

Registered owner Neil Clement, James Clutterbuck, the son of Newmarket trainer Ken Clutterbuck, and three unlicensed individuals - Paul Hill, Martin Raymond and Michael Turl - have also been charged.

Ahern's charges relate to five races held from September 2009 to February 2011.

The jockey, who is likely to be warned off if he is found guilty, is accused of breaching three rules of racing.

The hearing is scheduled to take place between April 29 and May 3, 2013.

Ahern must answer corruption charges for allegedly stopping Judgethemoment from running on his merits when he finished last of seven runners at Lingfield on January 21, 2011.

The BHA must also consider whether the jockey passed on 'inside information' linked to four other races at Chester (Sisindu), Wolverhampton (Downhill Skier) and twice at Kempton (Love You Louis and French Art).

Clement, a former West Bromwich Albion defender who retired from football in January 2010 due to a knee injury, faces charges linked to the same races in which Ahern was riding.

He is also charged with placing a lay bet on Hindu Kush, whom he used to own, when the horse finished last of six runners at Kempton on February 2, 2011.

Clutterbuck - who is also assistant trainer for his father - Hill, Turl and Raymond must appear before a disciplinary panel regarding a race at Lingfield on March 9, 2011.

James Clutterbuck is accused of passing on 'inside information' to Hill, Turl, Clement and Raymond when Stoneacre Gareth, trained by his father Ken Clutterbuck, finished fourth.

Ken Clutterbuck said the BHA's decision to charge his son over the Stoneacre Gareth race, in which he was sent off the 11-4 favourite, was "totally ridiculous".

He said: "I backed the horse to win at Lingfield and James backed it to win.

"The horse had gone up a lot in the handicap and it was his third run in about 10 days. Adam (Kirby) rode the horse perfectly well.

"James hasn't got the money to fight the BHA.

"He has been sorting out getting his licence for the last couple of months as he was going to take over from me in February, but obviously they put that on hold until this came out.

"We'll have to see what happens in May, but it's totally ridiculous."