Licence for wife of scandal-hit trainer

The saga involving controversial trainer Jim Best moved on to a new chapter yesterday when wife Suzi was granted a licence to train from the family stable at Lewes in Sussex.

A number of conditions were attached to the approval in an attempt to ensure ‘the operation is a new independent training entity’ and that ‘Mrs Best is in sole charge’.

her husband is not allowed to attend any racecourse where Mrs Best has a runner, not represent her in any way nor make any comment on the horses in her training to the media. Further conditions could still be added. Whether they will convince the public of a new hand at the helm remains to be seen but a sceptic would struggle not to dismiss them as cosmetic.

Best was suspended from the sport after being found guilty of telling jockey Paul John not to win on two of his horses. But an embarrassing bungled BhA legal process meant that Best’s original fouryear ban was replaced by a six-month penalty in December.

Best’s ban ended on June 19, the day the BhA licencing committee held the first of two licence application hearings for his wife. The application was processed by the Independent Licencing Committee after the BhA said it had ‘some matters of concern’.

A statement released by Mrs Best’s solicitor George Primarolo said: ‘Despite an interminable process, Suzi Best is thrilled to have been granted a trainer’s licence by the British horseracing Authority. The last 12 months have been a particularly trying time for Suzi and her family which has put an enormous amount of strain on the business. however, Suzi is now focused on making a successful start to her training career.’