Solicitor clears hurdle in appeal over race result

A London solicitor and racehorse trainer, who represented himself in an appeal against the disqualification of one of his horses, has had the controversial decision overturned by the Jockey Club.Andrew Reid, senior partner of Mayfair firm Reid Minty and a deputy High Court costs judge, lodged the appeal after his horse Dispol Evita was stripped of first place at a meeting at Lingfield this month.

A steward's panel decided it had caused interference with the second-placed horse.Mr Reid was able to claim the winning prize of 2,200, but the stewards' decision cost one punter more than 40,000 that he cannot claim back.

Mr Reid, who continues to be angry despite his successful appeal, described this provision in the Jockey Club rules as 'madness'.'The whole racing system is completely inconsistent and run by an old-boys' club who all have conflicting interests,' he said.

'The Jockey Club has been around for over 100 years but has never made any changes and I doubt they will improve despite of this.'Mr Reid is calling for the sport to be run by a more independent body and for there to be a panel to carry out immediate appeals against stewards' decisions after the race.'The tribunals themselves are in breach of the Human Rights Act,' he claimed.

'There is no right of appeal, the prosecutor and judge are one and the same body and you are not allowed to record anything - at least on this occasion they made the right decision.'Andrew Towler