BBC SPORT | Other Sports | Horse Racing | Dettori backs Jockey Club

Frankie Dettori has launched a robust defence of British racing following the BBC's Panorama programme which made a series of allegations about corruption in the sport.

The charismatic jockey said he watched most of the programme after winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

Jockey Club rejects Panorama allegations

And he believes that it did not reveal anything that people were not already aware of.

"I thought it was absolute rubbish," the jockey told the at the races television channel.

(The allegations) were based on information largely obtained from what can only be described as dubious sources

Former jockey
Graham Bradley

"Nothing new came out. It was five years old, things that we all knew about.

"They have all been in the newspapers and through the courts. I don't think we have made any progress.

"I have been all over the world and the Jockey Club in England is probably the best, (making British racing the) most policed sport in the world."

Sports Minister Richard Caborn defended the Jockey Club but said that he wanted to meet the organisation to discuss the issues raised in Panorama.

"The minister wants to discuss the measures that are being taken by the Jockey Club to ensure the integrity of the sport," said a spokesman.

He added that the action already taken by the Jockey Club to deal with malpractice in the sport had Caborn's "full support".

Jockey Club chief executive Christopher Foster, who appeared on the Panorama programme to defend the club, re-iterated on Monday that he had no intention of resigning.

Jockey Club hits back

Meanwhile, former jockey Graham Bradley believes the programme has affected his chances of a fair hearing when he faces the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee in November.

Bradley could be warned off by the club after admitting he was rewarded for passing on information to drug dealer Brian Wright.

The Panorama programme alleged that Bradley was involved in race-fixing but the ex-jockey denies the claim.

Former jockey Graham Bradley pictured at Sandown races in 1996
Bradley says Panorama used "dubious sources"

"I do not deny for one moment that I knew Brian Wright and that I became friendly with him," Bradley said in a statement.

"However, at no time did I know, or have any reason to believe, that he was involved in any criminal activity.

"A number of specific allegations were made against me by Panorama, but they were based on information largely obtained from what can only be described as dubious sources.

"Those allegations are untrue and I am asking my lawyers to advise on the possibility of legal action against the BBC and those who appeared on the programme."


	Links to more Horse Racing stories