Kirsty Milczarek overturns two-year riding ban

KIRSTY Milczarek is set for a return to the saddle after a successful appeal against a two-year riding ban imposed by the British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel in December.

Milczarek had been found in breach of the old Rule 201 (v), which concerned anyone who is “guilty of or conspires with any other person for the commission of, or connives at any other person being guilty of, any corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing in this or any other country”. She had also been found in breach of former Rule 243, which concerned “passing information for reward”, following a probe into a betting ring said by the BHA to have been masterminded by two owners, Maurice Sines and James Crickmore.

An Appeal Board statement said: “The [Disciplinary] Panel’s finding that Milczarek was a party to the conspiracy cannot stand and her appeal succeeds.”

Milczarek came under scrutiny for her ride on Obe Gold in August 2009 at Lingfield. She had reportedly been told not to take the blindfold off the horse until the last moment, but the panel found she removed it four seconds before the stalls opened. Obe Gold then sustained an injury in the stalls which the panel said would have affected her ride.

Meanwhile, a decision on whether Welsh National winner Le Beau Bai runs in Saturday’s Grand National will be made at the last possible moment, as Richard Lee’s nine-year-old needs soft ground.