BHA slaps lifetime ban on Rodgers for his role in race-fixing case.

Byline: Graham Green

GAMBLER and former racehorse owner Miles Rodgers has been given a lifetime ban from the sport following the BHA's latest race-fixing investigation.

Rodgers, from Yorkshire, admitted having been hit by the toughest punishment the regulator can impose - placing him on a par with notorious Brighton punter John McCracken - when contacted by the Racing Post yesterday.

His revelation, coming after last week's official announcements of the findings against jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams - who were fined pounds 50,000 and banned for three months respectively - leaves Karl Burke as the only one of the four people involved in the longrunning disciplinary inquiry still waiting to learn his fate.

The Middleham trainer confirmed last night that he had not yet heard from the BHA in respect of his case. The BHA has yet to confirm Rodgers' warningoff.

It is the second time the former owner has been warned off. He was disqualified for two years in March 2004 after being found guilty of laying two horses belonging to the Platinum Racing Club when a director of the syndicate.

The latest charges against Rodgers who, like Lynch and Williams, was acquitted when the Old Bailey race-fixing trial collapsed in December 2007, included causing Lynch, Williams and/or Burke to be in breach of the rules, laying horses through information obtained, placing bets on Lynch's behalf, and providing the jockey with some or all of the proceeds.

Although Rodgers appeared to have no complaint with racing's disciplinary system, he claimed two members of the BHA reneged on arrangements under which he believed he would escape the sport's ultimate sanction in return for his co-operation.

He said: "I received a lifetime ban. What they [the disciplinary panel] told me was that I could reapply after ten years, but I wouldn't be allowed back in and it would be an indefinite period.

"I think the BHA are totally within their rights to regulate however they see fit. I think the only moan that I would have is that on two separate occasions - once with a member of the BHA security department, and then another with a member of the legal department - I was assured that if I was prepared to be interviewed, and appeared at the disciplinary hearing, then I would not get a lifetime ban.

"Both times I was told a lifetime ban was restricted to people who did not co-operate. I did cooperate, I answered all the questions they asked me, and I am just a little bit disappointed that both members of the BHA did not keep their word."

Asked how the punishment would affect his betting, Rodgers replied: "I think realistically that is about as much as I want to say. You will know I am a very private person, I don't usually speak to reporters or any part of the media. The BHA are totally within their rights to regulate whichever way they see fit, that is the ban they have given me, and I have just got to accept it."

CAPTION(S):

Miles Rodgers: claims two BHA members reneged on agreement