Banned British jockey breaks silence over ‘isolated incident’ that led to staggering fine

THE banned British jockey who has been walloped with a massive fine has broken his silence over the ‘isolated incident’ that led to it.

Harry Bentley was fined more than £30,000 and banned for two months by Hong Kong Jockey Club chiefs earlier this week.

Bentley has broken his silence over his whopping ban and fineGetty

The whole ordeal had been shrouded in secrecy from the outset until it emerged Bentley, a Group 1-winning rider in England, had pleaded guilty to ‘improper conduct’.

The 31-year-old passed on inside information about horses to an individual using a private phone.

Bentley had remained silent on the case until posting a statement on Twitter on Tuesday.

It read: “I would like to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club for their close consideration throughout the steward’s enquiry regarding an isolated incident which occurred when I was new to Hong Kong and the racing scene.

“I want to be extremely clear that this charge is in no way related to giving tips, betting, wagering, race-fixing or accepting payment ahead of race riding.

“I ask that the public trust in the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s decision and have confidence that if this was the case I would not have received the penalty I have.

“I have always tried to get the best position for my horse – that has never been in question.

“I accept that I should have done more research on the rules in Hong Kong and I will endeavour to do better in future.”

Bentley added that his enforced exile – which comes to an end on January 3 next year – wil be used to ready himself for the remainder of the season.

In a statement, HKJC chief steward Marc van Gestel said: “In determining penalty, the stewards took into consideration his guilty plea, the nature and circumstances of the breach, including that the evidence established that Mr Bentley did not receive the payment as detailed, Mr Bentley’s personal and professional circumstances at the time of the offence and his unblemished record in relation to similar offences.

“In the circumstances, Mr Bentley’s jockey licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of two months to commence on November 3 2023, the day he was stood down by the stewards under Rule 12 (15), and to expire on January 3 2024.

“In addition, Mr Bentley was fined a sum of HK$300,000 (£31,379).”