Racehorse TALK

Leading trainer Karl Burke has been disqualified for 12 months following a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) inquiry into alleged race-fixing.

The Yorkshire-based handler, who saddled Lord Shanakill to Group One success in France this month, was investigated after the BHA concluded its review of evidence from the Old Bailey trial in 2007, where jockeys Darren Williams, Fergal Lynch and Kieren Fallon were all acquitted of any wrongdoing.

The BHA disciplinary panel decided to postpone the start of Burke's penalty until the day after the time allowed for lodging an appeal - July 28, 2009 - because "it would be wrong to cause what may be irreparable damage to Burke's business in that time if he does intend to appeal.

"It will be for the Appeal Board to decide whether to extend that stay of the penalty if he does in fact appeal."

Fallon did not have to face any further charges from the racing authorities but Williams, Lynch and Burke - who was arrested but released without charge as part of the original police investigation - were called before the disciplinary panel along with former owner Miles Rodgers, who has been warned off for life.

Williams, Lynch and Burke faced charges concerning their relationships with Rodgers and whether they supplied him with inside information over 12 races in 2004.

Lynch and Williams admitted those charges on the first day of the hearing as well as failing to supply information requested by the BHA team.

Lynch also owned up to a charge of betting via Rodgers and stopping a horse from running on its merits.

Williams was banned for three months while Lynch, who is now based in America, paid a STG50,000 ($A101,000) fine and agreed not to apply for a British licence for 12 months.

The disciplinary panel said it was "very conscious of what it was told of Burke's personal situation and training operation" and that it was recognised "a penalty of disqualification has a potentially very serious effect on his owners and employees especially."

But despite that, the panel "felt driven to conclude that it was necessary to impose a disqualification on Burke, and that the proper period was 12 months, bringing into account the various features of this case."

Burke declined to make any comment until he had spoken to his legal team.

AFP