Best verdict quashed, rehearing announced A rehearing has been ordered into non-trier charges brought by the British Horseracing Authority against trainer Jim Best. Best was found guilty earlier this year of instructing jockey Paul John to ride two horses - Echo Brava and Missile Man - not on their merits, and of "conduct prejudicial to horseracing in Great Britain". The Lewes-based handler was given a four-year disqualification from the sport, but strongly maintained his innocence, almost immediately launching an appeal, and was granted a stay of that penalty pending its outcome. It emerged in subsequent media reports the chairman of the disciplinary panel at the original hearing, solicitor Matthew Lohn, was engaged by the BHA on other matters, giving rise to claims of an appearance of bias in favour of the governing body. The BHA said that while there was "no suggestion of any actual bias" in the case, the non-disclosure of Lohn's other work "created an appearance of bias", and the guilty verdict and penalty against Best were quashed by an appeal board on Tuesday, which was chaired by Anthony Boswood QC. A statement from the BHA read: "The BHA notes the Appeal Board's decision to order a rehearing. "It takes full responsibility and apologises for the fact that the non-disclosure of Mr Lohn's other paid work created an appearance of bias which led to the need for a rehearing. "While there was no suggestion of any actual bias in this case, the BHA now accepts that it was an error not to disclose details of Mr Lohn's other paid work." BHA chief executive Nick Rust said: "While the BHA's Disciplinary Panels do not constitute judicial proceedings - we appoint members to Disciplinary Panels and we pay them to carry out their duties - our processes must not only be fair, but, particularly relevant in this case, be seen to be fair. "As we have already committed to, we will issue a full statement once the case is closed. In the meantime we will not make any further comment that might prejudice the outcome of the rehearing."
