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| Accused jockey claims 'good ride' | Accused jockey claims 'good ride' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A jockey accused of throwing races told investigators he had given his horse a "good ride" in one of the suspected races, the Old Bailey heard. | A jockey accused of throwing races told investigators he had given his horse a "good ride" in one of the suspected races, the Old Bailey heard. |
| Darren Williams, 29, was quizzed after the race by the Jockey Club, then the sport's ruling body, in January 2003. | Darren Williams, 29, was quizzed after the race by the Jockey Club, then the sport's ruling body, in January 2003. |
| He said he rode Legal Set - who came third at Lingfield in December 2002 - according to the given instructions. | |
| Six men, including champion jockey Kieren Fallon, deny conspiracy to defraud customers of Betfair website. | Six men, including champion jockey Kieren Fallon, deny conspiracy to defraud customers of Betfair website. |
| The prosecution claim the defendants "fixed" races by ensuring horses lost as Betfair - an internet betting exchange - allowed them to wager money on such outcomes. | |
| Mr Williams, 29, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire and Mr Fallon, 42, of Tipperary, Ireland, are on trial with fellow jockey Fergal Lynch, 29, from Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire. | |
| Along with professional gambler Miles Rodgers, 38, from Silkstone, South Yorkshire; Mr Lynch's brother Shaun Lynch, 37, of Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and Philip Sherkle, 42, of Tamworth, Staffordshire they have all pleaded not guilty to being involved in the alleged race-fixing scam. | |
| Mr Rodgers also denies concealing the proceeds of crime. | |
| Stewards' role | |
| The court heard Mr Williams was asked in his earlier interview if he gave the horse "too much to do" and if he had given the animal a "tender finish". | |
| The jockey replied that he was "quite annoyed, actually" at the suggestion. | |
| All six defendants deny there was any conspiracy | |
| "I gave the horse a good ride to the instructions given to me," he said in the interview read out in court. | |
| "I got stopped twice on one run, on the straight and just turning in. | |
| "The other thing I'd like to say is I've always won on that horse - not hitting him ever. Same as Fergal Lynch. He's won on him on the same tactics - not hitting him." | |
| Mr Rodgers, was also interviewed by the Jockey Club, which is now the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), in January 2003. | |
| He denied betting that Legal Set would lose in that particular race at Lingfield or on any other horse in that race. | |
| James Sturman QC, defending Mr Williams, asked William Nunnelly, a senior stipendiary steward at the BHA, about the role of stewards at race courses. | |
| Mr Nunnelly said they act as referees, and were trained to spot things such as interference, over-use of the whip and if a horse was not being ridden to his best ability. | |
| He told the court he thought the stewards at race courses in England "do a very good job". | |
| The hearing was adjourned until Monday. |