The betting patterns surrounding a gamble in a controversial race at Chelmsford City in September, after which the jockey Danny Brock was banned for seven days for wealing a horse while using a modified whip, could be under examination as part of a British Horseracing Authority investigation into the race.
The Guardian reports that Resurrected, who is trained by Charlie McBride, was initially a 100-1 shot for the Moving Made Easy Classified Stakes on 19 September, before opening on course at 25-1 and being backed down to start at 10-1. She won by half a length but Brock was interviewed by the local stewards and issued with a £140 fine for using a modified whip with two elastic bands wound around the tip.
A veterinary inspection a couple of hours later revealed the whip had made a mark on Resurrected. Brock had left the course so this aspect of the case was considered by an independent British Horseracing Authority panel on 17 October. This replaced his original fine with a seven-day suspension.
Unusually for a hearing that took place three weeks ago, the panel’s written reasons for its finding have yet to be published on the BHA’s website. The BHA said on Thursday it “cannot comment on ongoing investigations or speculation surrounding possible investigations”.
Resurrected, a three-year-old filly, raced at Chelmsford in the colours of Miss Charlie McPhillips (the jockey’s fiance) having been bought for £10,000 at the Tattersalls’ Breeze-Up sale in May 2018 when Brock was listed as the buyer.
She lined up for the Gr6 event, her first start over six furlongs, as one of the country’s lowest-rated horses in training having shown no worthwhile form in three outings when she started at 150-1, 66-1 and 50-1 but had little trouble justifying strong support to beat a dozen opponents, eventually crossing the line half a length in front having led a furlong out.
Brock’s seven-day suspension for wealing a horse – an offence that occurs, on average, about once a year from around 90,000 starts – has been a cause of much social media discussion in recent weeks, led by Ross Clarke, the racing editor of Catena Media.
