AP McCoy slams BHA after trainer Henry Oliver handed £140 fine by Uttoxeter stewards
The 20-time champion jockey has labelled the fine 'appalling' on Twitter
LEGENDARY jockey AP McCoy has slammed the BHA after they hit trainer Henry Oliver with a £140 fine.
Oliver was landed in hot water with the Uttoxeter stewards on Saturday after he waved his arms at the start to encourage his horse to race.
The eight-year-old Burrenbridge Hotel did eventually set off having planted himself as the tapes went up, though he was later pulled up by jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.
However, the stewards took a dim view of the trainer waving his arms and hit him with the fine for 'misconduct'.
McCoy retweeted the notice of the fine on Twitter along with the comment: "And for such stupidity I'm going to block @BHAStewards in case I end up reading again such embarrassing rubbish.
"How can our sport have such appalling decision makers in charge?"
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The BHA responded with a statement on social media: "Trainers are not permitted to encourage their horses to start, and that rule is there for a good reason.
"We set a lot of store in our sport behind the fact that we do not force horses to race and that they do so of their own free will.
"Moreover, in the interests of a fair, even start, individual horses should not have the attentions of a trainer of representative to get them on their way.
"For these reasons only they jockeys and starters are permitted to effect or influence the start.
"Once the rule has been breached then a penalty will follow, otherwise the rule is not enforceable. However, we have an appeal system and Mr Oliver is able to appeal his penalty should he wish."
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Worcestershire-based trainer Oliver said he would not be appealing the BHA's decision, and he apologised to stewards at the track.
He said: "Is it worth appealing for the sake of £140?
"I didn't even go down to the start to wave my arms about, I just went down to tell Sam (Twiston-Davies, jockey) that if you get off him and take him forward he'll go forward for you - I wasn't trying to get involved.
"Because they were 200 yards from the start I was just literally saying 'go on, on your way', I wasn't trying to interfere with the start of the race.
"It was his last run for me, he's going to the sales, and because he's got plenty of ability but isn't showing it I was just trying to give him every chance. He's won us nice races and I was just trying to give him every chance.
"He is quirky, but I did apologise to the stewards. They asked if I'd asked permission and I hadn't, but I only went down because the race was late off.
"The support I've had has been lovely, but ironically I didn't go down there to do that, just to tell Sam to jump off."