Trainer Jim Best has been banned from racing for four years with immediate effect following a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary enquiry. The other plaintiff involved, jockey Paul John has received a 150-day ban. The case centred around the performance of two Best trained horses, Echo Brava (GB) (Proclamation {Ire}) at Plumpton in December 2015 and Missile Man (Ire) (Winged Love {Ire}) at Towcester the same month, both who were deemed by the enquiry not to have been allowed run on their merits, on the instruction of the trainer.
BHA's director of integrity Adam Bricknell commented, “Jim Best's behaviour was reprehensible and an abuse of the privilege of holding a license.”
For his role in the whole saga Paul John commented, “I fully accept what I did was wrong. I want to apologise to the sport for my conduct in those two races.”
Jim Best's legal team later reported that the trainer is highly likely to appeal the four-year ban.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
