Jockey at centre of top secret investigation officially charged after being banned from all racing with immediate effect
A JOCKEY at the centre of a top secret investigation has officially been charged – after being banned from all racing with immediate effect.
British rider Harry Bentley is drafting in his lawyer after he was charged ‘under the rules of racing’ by Hong Kong Jockey Club chiefs.
In a brief statement, boss Marc van Gestel confirmed stewards ‘have issues licenced jockey Mr H Bentley with a charge under the rules of racing’.
Bentley, 31, was blocked from racing last Friday amid a ‘potential disciplinary matter’.
The process has remained shrouded in mystery with officials tight-lipped over the exact nature of the charges.
The hearing of the charge will take place on Monday following two days of talks in which top trainer Dennis Yip Chor-hong’s appearance added further intrigue.
Bentley, a six-time champion jockey in Qatar, requested the hearing to be delayed to Monday so his lawyer could be present.
The statement added: “The hearing of the charge has been deferred, at the request of jockey Bentley, to Monday, November 13 to allow for his legal representative to appear at the hearing.”
Bentley has been one of the stars of the Hong Kong circuit since arriving in April 2021.
He amassed prize money winnings of over £2.2m in Britain before leaving for the Far East.
One of his biggest days in the saddle came when winning the 2016 July Cup at Newmarket aboard Limato for trainer Henry Candy.
He bagged another Group 1 that year on the same horse in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc weekend.
Bentley was enjoying a profitable October in Hong Kong before being hit with the mysterious charge.
His Class 3 win on Blue Marlin was worth over £110,000 while three Class 4 victories brought in more than £200,000 altogether.
Former three-time British champion Flat jockey Silvestre de Sousa was also stood down by no-nonsense HKJC chiefs earlier this year.
He was given an enormous ten-month ban last May after being judged to have breached betting rules by ‘facilitating’ fellow Brazilian jockey Vagner Borges in placing a bet.
There was no suggestion De Sousa placed a bet himself and he decided against an appeal.
His countryman Borges was banned for 12 months.