"...I realised I was not guilty"

[Flea]

Egan returns with a clear conscience
Colin Fleetwood-Jones
Wednesday April 10, 2002
John Egan, the jockey whose world fell apart when he was arrested in Hong Kong earlier this year during an investigation into race-fixing and illegal bookmaking, is making a new start in Britain after the withdrawal of his licence to ride in the former colony.
His comeback rides at Lingfield at the weekend went well enough - yielding one second place - and Egan is confident that his name will be completely cleared in the very near future.
Racing suspensions are normally applied world-wide, but the Hong Kong Jockey Club has not asked for "reciprocity" over Egan's local ban, which will run until June 30.
He was free to ride here after a two-month ban in a separate case for misleading the Hong Kong stewards expired on April 1.
Just out of the sauna at Lingfield on Saturday and bang on his riding weight of 8st 2lb, the 33-year-old Irishman recalled his arrest.
"I was worried when I was locked up in a small room for two days and not able to get out or talk to anybody. But as soon as I realised I was not guilty of anything I was not too upset," he said.
"I handled the situation pretty well and it never really bothered me. I just went with the flow - I knew I had not done anything wrong. However, it must be said that there is a stigma attached to being linked with this kind of allegation.
"They never even told me why they had arrested me - and I would love to know. I went back after bail and asked them to charge me. But they did not have anything on me, so they had to let me go.
"My licence is suspended over there at the moment and I don't know what is going to happen to me - you know as much as I do from what you will have read in the trade press.
"They got what they wanted. They seized my documents, computer and personal stuff, and I'm sure they thought they would find something there. At the end of the day, however, it is obvious that they could not.
"Now I think I must be the cleanest jockey in Hong Kong because I'm the only one they have looked through and found nothing.
"I'm cleaner than clean. Now I'm going to stay here for the Flat season and, please God, I'll pick up where I left off last time.
"I feel confident that people here realise I am innocent. The Hong Kong authorities have had long enough to charge me or find anything on me."
The British Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse said: "He has been notified that the licence here will be subject to withdrawal depending on developments in Hong Kong."
Egan and his fellow Hong-Kong-based jockey Robbie Fradd were among 21 people arrested on February 6 over alleged race-fixing and illegal bookmaking.
No one has been charged in the case, but the local Jockey Club suspended the two riders to "ensure the public's confidence and protect the integrity of racing and betting in Hong Kong during the investigation".
Egan's passport was withheld by the Hong Kong authorities, but a successful court case saw it returned to him early in March.
His first two mounts on his return at Lingfield were supplied by an old friend, the Abergavenny trainer David Evans, and he rode one of them, Intellibet One, into second place.
The relieved jockey added: "David has always been a good pal and was a great supporter of mine when I first came to this country.
"I have been riding out work for trainers since I got back. I expect it will take a couple of months to really get back into it."
Egan, whose brother-in-law is the jockey Richard Hughes, was riding in pony races around Ireland from the age of seven; was Irish champion apprentice at 18 and spent four years with Mick O'Toole, one of the country's top trainers.
He rode his first winner in Ireland in 1984 and the highlight of his career in his home country was a treble at the Curragh on Irish Guineas day. He made the decision to come to Britain the following year.
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[hobbes]

"Now I think I must be the cleanest jockey in Hong Kong because I'm the only one they have looked through and found nothing.
I'm cleaner than clean. I feel confident that people here realise I am innocent."
some choice snippets there.
btw it seems with have a couple of sub cults here on asianracing involving "the simpsons" and "yes, minister" ( or am i dreaming the latter ? ).

[masun]

Talking of "Yes, Minister", Nigel Hawthorne who played Sir Humphrey in the series died in Dec last year. Quite a few famous Brits have died in recent months, e.g. George Harrison, Dudley Moore and the Queen Mom too.

[masun]

And talking of Dudley Moore, before he became famous with Bo Derek in "10", he was one half (the other half being Peter Cook) of the infamous Derek & Clive. One of D & C's famous recordings is the folloiwng Durex Handicap commentary. Warning: not suitable for children!
Derek & Clive -
"Horse Racing"
[ from the album "Ad Nauseum" (1978) ]
DEREK:
Good afternoon and welcome to, er, racing at Newmarket. They're about to go into the stalls, er, for the 3:30 so, over to you, Peter.
CLIVE:
Thank you, yes, the seven runners for this first Durex Handicap over six furlongs are just beginning to load up.
That's The Poof, n'very much on his toes and beautifully turned out, he really looked a picture in the paddock. And just coming into our picture is Vagina. Vagina is one of the two fillies in the race, she's, um, very good opening speed and the overnight rain will have helped her. She likes it a bit soft underfoot. That's The Wanker, going to the stalls. A steady performer, The Wanker, but, er, he tends to be a bit one-paced. Just going in is Buttocks. And, Buttocks, a big colt, blinkered for the first time. And there's our favourite The Prick. I think he would have preferred slightly firmer going, um, and just going is the outsider of the field, the seven year old Arsehole. Arsehole, by Shit out of Bumhole, erm, he's been tailed off on his last three outings, a rather disappointing horse this. And one of the last to go is Big Tits who's, um, carrying the top weight. A steady performer but, um, I think the ten pound penalty will be a little too much for her this afternoon. She's safely in.
Oh dear, The Prick! The Prick is rearing up! He tends to get excited, a very, very excitable horse, I remember he had to be withdrawn at Lingfield. Yes, they're going to put the hood on him. They're very good, the handlers here at Newmarket.
And now, a-, a late show of betting.
DEREK:
Mmm, thank you, Peter. The Prick has hardened a half a point to 11/8, Vagina is threes, The Poof and Buttocks both 9/2. There's been some late money for Big Tits who's come in to join The Wanker on 8/1 and Arsehole is 66/1.
CLIVE:
Er, as expected, Arsehole is the 66/1 complete outsider.
And they're, they're, they're, they'r-, they're all in.
They're under starter's orders and they're off!
Big Tits got a flyer and is the first to show.
Arsehole was slowly away.
And as they settle down it's Big Tits from Vagina with The Prick tucked in behind these two.
Then comes the blinkered Buttocks being pressed by The Poof.
Going steadily behind these five is The Wanker and trailing the field is Arsehole.
And as they start to climb the hill, it's Vagina who just shows clear of Buttocks.
The Prick is close up third, nothing between these three.
Big Tits is hanging slightly to the left, tucked in behind is The Poof.
Still trailing the field is Arsehole.
There is The Poof again making a challenge with Arsehole under pressure, but finding nothing.
And as they race to the line it's Vagina being pressed by The Prick, with The Poof making rapid progress, trying to squeeze in between Buttocks and the rail.
The Prick and Vagina, nothing between these two.
And The Wanker's coming with a late run! The Wanker is coming with a late run!
And Big Tits has dropped out of it all together!
And with a hundred yards to go, it's the Prick and Vagina, drawing clear.
The Prick and Vagina, stride for stride, length and line, it must be a photo.
I can't separate them but I think The Poof takes third from The Wanker, and still to finish is the tiring Arsehole.
Well, one hell of a race.
The Prick may just have got up in the last stride but I-, I wouldn't like to put my money on it.
And now it's back to topless darts at Roehampton.
[ April 18, 2002: Message edited by: masun ]

[jb]

I`ve just recieved mail that the so called bookies were in fact just a bunch of punters.

[masun]

Patrick Yu wrote in his Sing Pao column today that some trainers and jockeys were invited to have coffee at the ICAC.
While investigating a case involving an expat jockey who had already left HK, the ICAC learnt that he once provided someone with tips for a certain race. The tipped horses, which didn't include his own ride, won. Trainers and jockeys involved in the race were invited to the ICAC for routine questioning.