Investigation into Jockey Club's head of security
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Your support makes all the difference.The Jockey Club confirmed yesterday that Roger Buffham, its controversial head of security, is the subject of an internal investigation following serious allegations by a member of his staff. No details of the allegations have been revealed.
"There are no charges as yet, just allegations that have been made," John Maxse, the Club's spokesman, said yesterday. "We will try to conclude the investigation as quickly as possible." It is thought that it could be several weeks before the investigation is complete.
Buffham, who has not been suspended from his post, is in charge of 30 full-time employees and 34 more who work on a part-time basis. The security department includes a team of investigating officers, several of whom are former policemen.
Buffham, a former bomb-disposal expert and army intelligence officer in Northern Ireland, took on the role of head of security in 1992, since when he has been a controversial figure. He was the subject of intense criticism during the long-running investigation into alleged doping and race-fixing, during which five jockeys were arrested but released without charge. Five other men eventually stood trial at Southwark Crown Court on charges relating to the investigation, but the case against them collapsed, prompting a number of racing figures, including Michael Caulfield, the secretary of the Jockeys' Association, to call on Buffham to resign.
* Michael Kinane has launched an appeal against the suspension that threatens to rule him out of the ride on Galileo in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot next Saturday. Kinane yesterday visited the Irish Turf Club's offices to look at videos of the race that prompted the ban. However, his hearing may not take place until Thursday, 24 hours before the ban is due to start, as there is no racing in Ireland that day. Galileo continued his build-up for the race at Ballydoyle yesterday morning. "He just did a little canter and he's in good form," Aidan O'Brien reported.
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