Karl Burke has 110 stables at his Spigot Lodge base

Trainer Karl Burke has had his appeal against a one-year ban for alleged race-fixing dismissed by the British Horseracing Authority.

Burke was suspended after an inquiry into a 2007 court case, in which he was arrested but released without charge.

The BHA fined and banned two jockeys involved in the case for admitting passing on insider information.

Burke hoped to get his suspension for the same offence reduced but the BHA board rejected his appeal.

It also ordered Burke to forfeit his £800 deposit and pay £4,000 towards costs.

Burke's lawyers had argued his punishment was disproportionate with his breach of the rules and those given to the jockeys.

The North Yorkshire-based handler was investigated after the BHA finished its review into the Old Bailey trial in 2007, when jockeys Darren Williams, Fergal Lynch and Kieren Fallon were cleared of wrongdoing.

The trio of jockeys had faced charges regarding their relationships with owner Miles Rodgers and whether they gave him inside information over 12 races in 2004.

Burke was arrested but released without charge as part of the initial police inquiry.

As a result of the BHA's investigation, Rodgers has been warned off for life and Williams, currently based in the United States, has agreed not to apply for a British licence for 12 months as well as pay a £50,000 fine.

Burke had been enjoying a fine season and recently saddled Lord Shanakill to Group One success in France.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version