LEVEY ANGER
Jockey wants testing inquiry
WRONGED jockey Sean Levey hopes lessons will be learned from the debacle which robbed him of landing a £20,000 bonus.
The jockey said he felt “aggrieved” after missing the chance of winning the lucrative Racing League top jockey award when he was stood down by raceday stewards last Wednesday.
Levey’s instant saliva test produced a positive result for amphetamine, a prohibited substance.
He immediately requested a urine sample, which came back negative – but it has cost him eight days of wages, plus a shot at the five-figure sum in the unique competition.
Levey, who took the Qipco 1,000 Guineas in 2018 on the longestpriced winner Billesdon Brook (66-1), returns with five booked rides at Haydock on Friday.
“Although I am happy to be back riding later this week, it’s hard not to feel aggrieved at what has happened to me the last few days,” said Levey in a statement.
“Some might say I’ve been unlucky with the false positive happening just before the Racing League final, but I sincerely hope that there are lessons to be learned from this and that similar things don’t happen to jockeys in the future.”
And, later, Levey told At The Races: “I hadn’t taken anything and I was innocent. It has tarnished my name. And I still haven’t heard anything back from the BHA as far as an apology is concerned.”
Rapid saliva testing, which gives initial results in 15 minutes, was introduced in the sport last May.
Jockeys are stood down if they fail a test, while a further sample undergoes more detailed checks in the laboratory.
In Levey’s absence, Saffie Osborne raced to the top of the Racing League standings with a stunning 6,539-1 treble at Newcastle’s grand finale.
A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority said: “The BHA can confirm that Sean Levey is able to ride and will be making no further comment at this time as the matter remains confidential.”