Former jockey Barrie Wright was forced to admit to his links with drug trafficker Brian Wright at a trial in 2001.

Wright, who is no relation to Brian Wright, had been accused of conspiracy to import cocaine at a trial in Southampton Crown Court in September 2001.

The ex-national hunt jockey was acquitted of the charges.

But during the trial, fellow jockey Graham Bradley gave evidence in which he admitted to selling sensitive information to bookmakers and Brian Wright.

Action

The Jockey Club has said both jockeys could face disciplinary action as a result of the evidence. Although no action has yet been taken.

It is thought they would be in breach of Rule 2 of the Rules of racing:

• The Stewards of the Jockey Club shall have power to exclude or cause or order to be excluded for any period or for an indefinite period from any premises owned, licensed or controlled by them any person whether or not subject to the Rules of Racing where, in their absolute discretion, they consider the presence of such person on such premises undesirable in the interest of racing even though such person is not and has not been declared, a disqualified person.

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BARRIE WRIGHT'S EVIDENCE

When he was in the dock in February 2000, Barrie Wright, who said he used to live with Brian Wright's son, made some serious admissions.

He said: "I would pass it (information gleaned from other jockeys) onto the owners but I would pass every bit of information onto BBW because he became a person who would pay me good presents when I gave him winning information."

The jockey added that he received cash gifts from Brian Wright and explains to the court that this is against the rules of racing.

Later in his evidence, Barrie Wright, said: "He (Brian Wright) would pull out his money, if he had to give you some money for information you had given him he would pay you in cash and it was so fluid the way he done it. It was though it was natural."

No questions

Asked by the defence, if Brian Wright had a reputation within racing circles, he added: "I would go so far as to say if you heard of a gamble coming off, somebody would say it is something to do with Brian Wright, even if it wasn't."

He also spoke about his relationship with Wright, telling the court: "I never asked Brian Wright a question in all my relationship with him over 20 years.

"If he gave me �10,000 to put on a horse, I would have, I wouldn't ask any questions. I had worked with this guy for 20 years."

Later, Barrie Wright also revealed how he would pass on information to Brian Wright, saying: "If for some reason I wanted to give information to Brian Brendan Wright I would normally ring him, or he would ring Brad (Graham Bradley)."

In his summing up, the judge in the case said that the prosecution had outlined how Brian Wright paid young jockeys large amounts of cash to get them under his control in the hope they would repay him later on.

"I do not think that Barrie Wright dissents from that." He added.

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GRAHAM BRADLEY'S EVIDENCE

Graham Bradley also told the court that Barrie Wright supplemented his income by "punting" - passing (selling) privileged information - not available to ordinary punters - onto professional gamblers.

Below is a transcript of Bradley's evidence in the trial:

• Defence counsel: Let us be clear - it is not only Barrie Wright who is providing information to Brian Wright and his team, you were as well, were you not?
• Bradley: Yes.
• Defence counsel: Information which, let us also be quite clear, the average punter would probably give his eye teeth for?
• Bradley: Yes, very privileged information.
• Defence counsel: You are giving it to other people for their financial advantage?
• Bradley: Yes
• Defence counsel: And in the end also for your financial advantage.
• Bradley: Yes.
• Defence counsel: Because when you give a good tip to somebody like Brian Brendan Wright you get a ``present'', do you not?
• Bradley: Yes.
• Defence counsel: Thousands of pounds sometimes?
• Bradley: Not that sort of money.
• Defence counsel: What is the biggest amount he has paid you?
• Bradley: Different nights out and hotels, etc, I can't recall the exact biggest present he has ever given me. Every jockey in the country numbering three or four hundred has the same and probably does the same.
• Defence counsel: And how you got your back scratched was, apparently, nights out at expensive nightclubs?
• Bradley: Yes.
• Defence counsel: All the drinks paid for, all the meals paid for, all the rest of it paid for by Brian Brendan Wright?
• Bradley: Yes.
• Defence counsel: Envelopes handed over in cash if you had given him a good tip?
• Bradley: Occasionally.
• Defence counsel: How much information were you giving him in the 1990s?
• Bradley: Lots