Trainer Jim Best, who was suspended from training for six months following a re-hearing by a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel last week, will not appeal that penalty, his solicitors revealed in a statement. Best was found guilty of ordering conditional jockey Paul John to stop two horses last December. He was initially handed a four-year ban in February, but the case was retried after it was found that Matthew Lohn, chairman of the original panel, had previously undertaken paid work for the BHA, creating an appearance of bias.
A statement issued on behalf of Best from Stewart-Moore Solicitors read: “Despite whole-heartedly rejecting the finding of the latest disciplinary panel, Mr Best has taken the extremely difficult decision not to appeal the panel's decision. Mr Best is innocent of the charges against him.”
Stewart-Moore described the BHA's disciplinary proceedings as a “lottery.”
“If these proceedings were in any forum where the prosecuting authority did not have so much at stake, Mr Best would be appealing,” the statement read. “However, the two wildly contrasting penalties handed down by the first and second panels shows that BHA disciplinary proceedings are a lottery and Mr Best is unwilling to take yet another extremely expensive roll of the dice over his future and the futures of his family and staff.”
Stewart-Moore also hit out at the BHA for allegedly making a deal with John to testify against Best in exchange for favourable treatment.
“Moreover, the deal between John and the BHA, the existence of which the BHA has absurdly denied throughout, and the failure to explain how a lawyer paid by the BHA ended up chairing the first disciplinary panel suggests that the BHA cannot be trusted to ensure that Mr Best receives a fair appeal hearing in any event.”
The BHA declined comment, saying in a statement, “The deadline for any appeals by either party is 5 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon and the BHA will not make any further comment while the appeal window remains open.”
Best's wife, Suzie, has reportedly applied for a training license to take over the yard.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
