Harry Bentley fined over £30,000 and banned for two months

Harry Bentley, a well-known British jockey, has finally spoken out about the recent incident that resulted in his hefty fine and ban. The Hong Kong Jockey Club handed down the punishment earlier this week, but details surrounding the case were kept under wraps until now.

Guilty of improper conduct

It has been revealed that Bentley, a Group 1-winning rider in England, pleaded guilty to improper conduct. The 31-year-old was found to have shared inside information about horses with an individual using a private phone.

Bentley defends himself on Twitter

After remaining silent throughout the ordeal, Bentley took to Twitter to share his side of the story. In his statement, he emphasized that the charges against him were not related to giving tips, betting, race-fixing, or accepting payment. He also expressed his trust in the Hong Kong Jockey Club's decision and vowed to do better in the future.

Enforced exile and future plans

Bentley's ban, which began on November 3, 2023, will last for two months and end on January 3, 2024. During this time, he plans to use the enforced break to prepare himself for the remainder of the season.

Penalty considerations

Hong Kong Jockey Club chief steward Marc van Gestel explained that Bentley's penalty took into account his guilty plea, the nature and circumstances of the breach, his personal and professional circumstances at the time, and his clean record in relation to similar offenses. In addition to the ban, Bentley was also fined HK$300,000 (£31,379).