Turner betting ‘mistake’

● Retired jockey had online account while still licensed

Hayley Turner has expressed her regret after a “mistake” over the opening of an internet betting account left her facing a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing next Thursday.

Britain’s most successful woman jockey officially retired from the saddle at the end of the 2015 season and after initially establishing a media career with At The Races and ITV Racing, Turner recently opted to return to race riding in France.

However, Turner’s decision to open an online account following her initial retirement prompted a BHA inquiry as she technically still held a licence, leaving the rider “deeply embarrassed”.

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, said in a statement: “Following her retirement… Hayley opened an online betting account in her name registered to her home address.

“Even though she was officially retired, Hayley subsequently took part in a number of one-off, invitational events and had some warm-up rides, and held a licence from the BHA enabling her to take part in those events. It was only this summer that Hayley decided to return to race riding more fully in France.

“Even though Hayley no longer saw herself as a jockey, and placed no bets whilst actively riding, she did place bets whilst holding a licence which technically placed her in breach of the Rules of Racing, something Hayley entirely accepts. There were a total of 164 such bets over a period of approximately 18 months, with a median average stake of £10 and a mean average stake of £18.62, which generated a total profit of £160.

“Hayley has co-operated fully and has been transparent and honest. The BHA has confirmed that beyond the Rule breaches themselves, it has no further integrity concerns over the bets or Hayley herself.

“Hayley is absolutely devastated at her mistake and deeply embarrassed and sorry for it.

Joint champion apprentice in 2005, Turner was the first woman to ride 100 winners in a year and is a three-time winner at the top level.