Five members of the pointing community have been charged by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA) with running a ringer a horse that looks like another but is actually much better in two point-to-point races and attempting a similar scam in a third race.
The matter first came to the attention of the HRA in April 2006 when a horse called Quintin, owned by Robert Tierney and due to be ridden by Charles Gundry, was set to run at Staintondale point-to-point.
The Staintondale stewards were alerted to the fact that Quintin may in fact be another horse. After a veterinary inspection, it was discovered that Quintin was actually a horse called Max N Limbo.
The HRA then launched an inquiry into Mr Tierney and subsequently uncovered two other episodes in which he is suspected of entering ringers in two point-to-point races in February 2006.
The other individuals who have been charged are Richard Tierney, Charles Gundry, Ruth Marley and Roger Marley. A date for the inquiries is yet to be set.
It is the first suspected ringers case in British racing since the famous Flockton Grey incident in 1982.
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