A heated confrontation yesterday at Doncaster races when professional punter Harry Findlay crossed paths with BHA Chief Executive Nic Coward. The reasons behind the angst can be found here in a previous post. Findlay accused Coward of ruining his life and demanded the resignation of Coward and BHA Chairman Paul Roy.
Now, I'm not one to side with racing authorities very often, but the facts of the matter are that Harry knew the rules, and broke them - not once, which may or may not have been an accident, but twice - and that's only of the times that we know Betfair and the BHA Integrity Unit spoke. And then he had the gall to claim he had special privileges, despite all figures in the racing industry being told very firmly that using inside information to lay horses in the same stable was expressly prohibited. He was given a severe penalty which was later reduced on appeal, but he was still found guilty of the offence.
You made your own bed Harry, now you have to lie in it. Rather than blaming the BHA for your problems, perhaps you should accept the fact your penchant for hooch is frying your brain and ability to think rationally. Stop acting like a two-year-old throwing a tantrum.
Now, I'm not one to side with racing authorities very often, but the facts of the matter are that Harry knew the rules, and broke them - not once, which may or may not have been an accident, but twice - and that's only of the times that we know Betfair and the BHA Integrity Unit spoke. And then he had the gall to claim he had special privileges, despite all figures in the racing industry being told very firmly that using inside information to lay horses in the same stable was expressly prohibited. He was given a severe penalty which was later reduced on appeal, but he was still found guilty of the offence.
You made your own bed Harry, now you have to lie in it. Rather than blaming the BHA for your problems, perhaps you should accept the fact your penchant for hooch is frying your brain and ability to think rationally. Stop acting like a two-year-old throwing a tantrum.
Couldn't agree more - no one but he decided to lay - he knew the rules but even if he didn't ignorance of them is no excuse.
ReplyDeleteOne person to blame and imo the first punishment was right not the latter.
In the aftermath of it, a six-month disqualification isn't that big a penalty, so perhaps it was appropriate... but that is conditional on other penalties being stiff and very tough. Rules are rules, and while I think there should be a separate assessment of trading whilst still profiting from a win, until the rule book changes, you have to live by what is written.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a bit extreme to for Harry to say that Nic Coward has ruined his life.
ReplyDeleteFindlay isn't stupid and I'd be surprised to find that he didn't know the rules.
I'm sure there are 'people in the know' who lay horses in a far more discrete manner than Findlay does, it smacks of arrogance from him in my opinion.