Burke to appeal disqualification

Solicitors acting for Karl Burke have confirmed the North Yorkshire trainer intends to appeal after being disqualified for 12 months following a British Horseracing Authority inquiry into alleged race-fixing.The BHA announced an investigation after concluding its review of evidence from the Old Bailey trial in 2007, where jockeys Darren Williams, Fergal Lynch, Kieren Fallon plus former owner Miles Rodgers were all acquitted of any wrongdoing.Fallon did not have to face any further charges from the racing authorities but Williams, Lynch and Burke - who was arrested but released without charge as part of the original police investigation - were called before the disciplinary panel along with Rodgers.Both jockeys and Burke faced charges concerning their relationships with Rodgers and whether they supplied him with inside information over 12 races in 2004. Lynch and Williams admitted those charges on the first day of the hearing as well as failing to supply information requested by the BHA team.Lynch also owned up to a charge of betting via Rodgers and stopping a horse from running on its merits. Williams was banned for three months while Lynch, who is now based in America, paid a £50,000 fine and agreed not to apply for a British licence for 12 months.Confirming Burke intends to appeal, the trainer's solicitors, Bark & Co, issued the following statement: "The BHA imposed on Karl Burke a penalty of 12 months disqualification for providing inside information and associating with a warned off person Miles Rodgers. "Mr Rodgers had been an owner of horses and co-investor in land at Mr Burke's yard. This business relationship was on-going at the time Mr Rodgers was warned off and continued for a short period thereafter. Mr Burke also had some associations with Mr Rodgers including the imparting of opinion on the running of six horses. "Mr Burke received no payment from Mr Rodgers for providing his opinion on these races. He spoke to Rodgers about these races in order to prevent any difficulty in the replacement of Rodgers as an investor at Spigot Lodge. He was misguided in associating with Mr Rodgers in this way and has admitted these failings. "He does not dispute being liable for a penalty for these breaches but the penalty imposed by the BHA is unfair and excessive. This penalty far exceeds that which might reasonably have been expected particularly with regard to the penalties imposed on Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams."Mr Burke has not had the benefit of a conspiracy of circumstances, plea bargaining, or otherwise in being dealt with by the BHA. It is clear that he has not been treated by the BHA comparably with Mr Lynch and Mr Williams nor fairly when all matters of the proceedings are considered. He intends to appeal this decision."