Trainer Jim Best has been found guilty of instructing a rider to stop two horses last December at a rehearing of his case in London on Monday, and has been banned for six months. A British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel ruled Best had instructed conditional jockey Paul John to stop Echo Brava (GB) (Proclamation {Ire}) and Missile Man (Ire) (Winged Love {Ire}) from running to their merits at Plumpton and Towcester, both instances resulting in unplaced finishes.
Best, who denied all charges, was also found guilty of governing conduct prejudicial to horse racing. John has not been charged, but was banned for 150 days from Dec. 21, 2015 to May 19, 2016.
Best was initially found guilty of the same charges in February, but a rehearing was ordered after it was discovered that Matthew Lohn, chairman of the disciplinary panel at that hearing, had worked with the BHA on other matters, resulting in the appearance of a bias.
The new disciplinary panel retired to consider its penalty regarding the findings. Best has seven days to appeal, and has previously suggested he would go to the High Court to prove his innocence.
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