Racing: Court battle looms as riders reject phone rules

Overtures by the Jockey Club yesterday to try to end the unedifying stalemate in the dispute over the use of mobile phones on racecourses have been rejected by riders. The row between the guardians of the sport's integrity and the ranks of those who can do - and in some cases, have done - most to undermine it is becoming increasingly bitter and a court battle to resolve the situation is now looming.

Each of the two sides views the other as intransigent, as unmoving as a hooded horse with its feet planted behind a starting stall. The Jockey Club introduced mobile restrictions at the start of this month as part of a security clampdown that was a direct result of a high-profile corruption court case which revealed that privileged information was being passed from weighing rooms by phone. Yesterday a series of amended restrictions was announced, to be implemented on Friday on a trial basis with regular reviews.

But Michael Caulfield, chief executive of the riders' trade body, the Jockeys' Association, was left unmoved and said: "As far as I can see, the restrictions remain exactly the same as those put forward at a meeting last week. I was summoned to the Jockey Club headquarters, where I had hoped to enter meaningful talks. Instead, I was presented with a set of rules to be implemented without discussion. I was completely stunned."

Three senior jockeys, Kevin Darley, Tony McCoy and Philip Robinson, have been at the forefront of negotiations alongside Caulfield. "After speaking to them, I was left in no doubt that they are resigned to the fact that the only remaining option is a legal challenge." he said.

The restrictions under dispute include mobiles being switched off unless they are being used for outgoing calls from a supervised "phone zone" in the weighing room. The jockeys claim that not being instantly available to trainers and agents puts undue pressure on their working arrangements, but are happy for mobiles to be answered only in the phone zone.

"We have suggested a compromise: two trials, of their suggestions and ours, to see which works best." Caulfield added. "The jockeys understand the need for security and are fully committed to this and would more than co-operate. But the Jockey Club's opportunity to buy into trust seems buried and the goodwill tank is bone dry."

The Senior Steward of the Jockey Club, Julian Richmond-Watson, defended the Portman Square stance with a reminder. "Racing cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this area of proven vulnerability," he said, "particularly now the scope and nature of betting is expanding. It is not a case of not trusting the jockeys riding today but racing and betting are inextricably linked and are vulnerable to those who seek to gain an unfair advantage, whether it be via access to privileged information or through trying to affect the outcome of a race. And we know that it is not without precedent for such people to put pressure on jockeys to compromise the sport's integrity."

* Last year's Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, Gossamer, now in foal to Rainbow Quest, is to be offered for sale at the Tattersalls December Sales as part of a dispersal of the late Gerald Leigh's stock. Three other Classic heroines are also due under the hammer at the auction: Bosra Sham (in foal to Green Desert), Lady Carla (Mark Of Esteem) and Ramruma (Machiavellian).