海角大神 has reviewed the comments made by trainer Nicky Henderson following the victory of Bob鈥檚 Worth at the Cheltenham Festival, in which the trainer mentioned a bet placed by himself to train no winners at the Cheltenham Festival.
Rule (C)64 of the Rules of Racing states that 鈥�A trainer must not lay with a Betting Organisation any horse under his care or control to lose a race…instruct another Person to do so, or…receive the whole or any part of any proceeds of such a lay.鈥�
Having reviewed his comments and taken advice, the Authority today confirms that it will not be bringing charges against Nicky Henderson.
Explaining the decision, Paul Struthers, Head of Communications for the Authority, said:
鈥淲hilst no one has suggested that Nicky Henderson would have wanted to train no winners at the Cheltenham Festival, it is the Authority鈥檚 view that, if the bet was placed, it was ill-judged and inappropriate.
鈥淗aving sought advice, the decision has been taken not to pursue the matter because, as the Rule is currently worded, there is unlikely to have been a breach as there was not any separate lay of each runner.
鈥淭hat said, we believe that a trainer placing such a bet, however intentioned, is wrong and we will be looking to amend the relevant rules to reflect this.鈥�
