An apprentice jockey in Europe has been handed a six-month ban from racing after admitting to placing bets on races, according to Racing Post. Finley Marsh may continue to work for trainer Richard Hughes, who has employed him for the last six years.
According to the Racing Post story, Marsh placed more than $6,600 in wagers in a 16-month period. He bet on horses he rode as well as others trained by Hughes plus races in Australia.
Marsh has not ridden since November 2020. Tim Charlton, chairman of the British Horseracing Authority’s disciplinary committee considered that when delivering the ruling. The suspension for Marsh’s offenses could have been a full year.
Charlton added that the panel accepted a clinical psychologist’s diagnosis that Marsh had bet as a way of coping as part of an addiction to gambling.
"It wasn’t in any shape or form calculated behavior, and that, to our thinking, seriously reduces the blameworthiness of your conduct," Charlton said, according to the Racing Post story. "We wish you well for your continued work on dealing with your problem. We’ve been very impressed with the efforts you’ve made."
