Blockley and McKeown warned off by BHA

RACING NEWS: TRAINER PAUL BLOCKLEY and jockey Dean McKeown have been warned off after being found guilty on two charges following…

RACING NEWS:TRAINER PAUL BLOCKLEY and jockey Dean McKeown have been warned off after being found guilty on two charges following the latest British Horseracing Authority (BHA) inquiry into alleged corruption.

Blockley and McKeown were found guilty of breaching rule 201 (v), in that they conspired with other persons to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice.

The Lambourn handler was also found guilty of breaking rule 155(ii), in that he failed to give or cause to be given to McKeown such instructions as were necessary to ensure Hits Only Money ran on its merits at Wolverhampton in December 2005.

McKeown was judged by the BHA disciplinary panel to have breached rule 157, in that he intentionally failed to ensure that Only If I Laugh, Smith N Allan Oils, Hits Only Cash and Hits Only Money ran on their merits in races between June 2004 and December 2005.

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Blockley was declared a disqualified person for two-and-a-half years, and McKeown disqualified for four years. Asked for his reaction on leaving the hearing, Blockley said he "needed time".

Owner Clive Whiting was also found in breach of rule 201(v) and 220(vii)(b), in that he misled BHA investigators. Fellow owner David Lovatt and Martyn Wakefield, along with Whiting's brother Vincent, former owner Marcus Reeder, David Wright and Nicholas Rook, were all found guilty of breaching rule 201(v).