Racing: Murphy fined for damaging racing in television sting

After trial by television back in June Ferdy Murphy at last faced the wrath of officialdom yesterday when he sat before the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee charged with "acting in a manner which was prejudicial to the good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain". In a year during which the name of racing has been dragged through the mud more often than a journeyman jump jockey, Murphy's defence could almost have been that as there was no "good reputation" to tarnish he had no charge to answer.

Instead, Murphy held his hands up and was fined £4,000 for comments made on the BBC programme Kenyon Confronts. In the programme, footage taken by hidden camera showed Murphy indicating to reporters, purporting to be potential owners, that if they put a horse in training with him he would be prepared not to run the horse on its merits to enable them to subsequently back it at favourable odds.

Murphy was also seen claiming that a horse in his charge had been laid to win money on a betting exchange. But speaking after yesterday's hearing, Murphy denied that he had taken part in such an activity.

"I've never had a bet with Betfair [the betting exchange] I don't even have an account," he said. "I never had any intention of carrying out what was said on the film. I was trying to sell a horse to what I thought were potential owners.

"I have come here today and put my hands up rather than get involved in a prolonged battle with the Jockey Club.

"These [television] people came to me with an agenda – they were after a story. They wanted to know about stopping horses and they kept pushing and moving the goalposts. I actually advised them that if they bought a horse the time to back it was first time out.

"I am embarrassed for myself, but the financial margins for a trainer are very tight and you are always having to think about a sale."

The last person penalised under the same Jockey Club rule was the telephone tipster Cliff Woof, who was fined £1,500 in July 2000. Murphy said he was very disappointed with the level of his own punishment which set a benchmark for fellow trainers Jamie Osborne and David Wintle, who will face similar charges arising from the programme in the New Year.

Murphy's barrister, Rory Macniece, said that no allegations concerning specific bets were put to Murphy during the hearing. "The Jockey Club asked for and received all his betting accounts and there was no allegation that Ferdy had placed a bet on Betfair."

Unsurprisingly, Murphy condemned the use of hidden cameras: "Everyone has at least 10 conversations a day they would not want broadcast. It's not a nice feeling to be had like that."

Murphy had hoped that the resignation of the Jockey Club's security chief, Jeremy Phipps, as a result of ill-advised comments on a secret recording for BBC's Panorama programme would count in his favour.

However, John Maxse, the Jockey Club public-relations director, said: "I do not think the incident with Jeremy Phipps put the committee in an invidious position. He resigned following the broadcast by Panorama. Had he not done so the position might be different.

"I have a lot of sympathy for people caught out by covert filming. Unfortunately, Ferdy's comments did not display the sport's integrity positively.

"I have spoken to the committee chairman, Christopher Hodgson, and there were two points behind the £4,000 fine. Firstly Ferdy's comments were broadcast on national television, and secondly it cannot be seen as acceptable that a trainer can encourage a potential owner to buy a horse in that way. Since the programme, Ferdy has done as much as he could to limit the damage to himself and the sport's reputation."

The result of the hearing was welcomed by the programme makers. "The fine is a complete vindication of the investigation," a BBC spokesman said.

Though shocked by the outcome, Murphy, was not completely disconsolate and his career is far from over. "It is disappointing, but I have had a great deal of support from all my owners. I haven't lost a single horse as a result – in fact, I've actually got a couple more."