As the Jim Best case breathes its last after a year of legal debate and as racing’s ruling body admits it has blown a six-figure sum through its failure to provide a demonstrably fair hearing at the first attempt, it is instructive to see the first concern for some people is the penalty given to the trainer. The British Horseracing Authority has lost a significant chunk of the sport’s money by persisting in an avoidable mistake and there are several worrying aspects to the way it has pursued this case, but the main irritant for several observers is that Best has not been immediately put out of business.
This just goes to show what a strong authoritarian streak runs through horse racing, its practitioners and its followers. It also suggests a failure to engage with some of the details revealed over the past eight months that indicate the respect for due process at the BHA is not all that it might be.
Related: Jim Best says BHA case has torn him to pieces after horse-stopping ban
Related: Jim Best decides not to appeal verdict of BHA disciplinary committee
Related: Jim Best: ‘All the fun I’ve had over the years has been taken out of me’
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