RV Stewards' Report - Francis Finnegan & Ben Thompson

Racing Victoria (RV) stewards have issued five charges against licensed trainer Francis Finnegan, two of which are in the alternative, and two charges against licensed jockey Ben Thompson for breaches of the Australian Rules of Racing.

The charges emanate from an inquiry that was opened following the debut win of the Mr Finnegan-trained and Mr Thompson-ridden No Frontiers (NZ) in the Long Paddock 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m) at Bairnsdale Racecourse on 3 May 2020, that investigated the horse’s performance in that race and its previous jump outs (the Inquiry).  

FRANCIS FINNEGAN

Stewards have issued the following charges against Mr Finnegan:

Charge 1 – AR 232(i) False and/or misleading evidence

The Stewards allege that Mr Finnegan gave false and/or misleading evidence to Stewards during the Inquiry on 3 May 2020 and/or 5 June 2020. 

Charge 2 – AR 228(b) Misconduct and/or improper conduct detrimental to the interests of racing

The Stewards allege that sometime between 3 and 11 May 2020, Mr Finnegan deleted from his mobile phone, messages and/or call records between himself and Mr Thompson and/or himself and an apprentice jockey that were or could have been relevant to the Inquiry.

Charge 3 – AR 227(b) Approaches, requests, conspires or is a party to another person breaching the Rules of Racing

The Stewards allege that sometime between 3 and 11 May 2020 Mr Finnegan approached, requested and/or was a party to Mr Thompson deleting from his mobile phone sometime between 3 and 11 May 2020, messages and/or call records between himself and Mr Finnegan that were or could have been relevant to the Inquiry.

Charge 4 – AR 229(1)(a) Dishonest, fraudulent, improper and/or dishonourable action or practice in connection with racing

The Stewards allege that Mr Finnegan knowingly jumped out No Frontiers (NZ) at the Cranbourne Jump Outs on 23 March 2020 under the name of stablemate Avozhina, and on 6 and 20 April 2020 under the name of stablemate Getemhel, to assess No Frontier’s capability to perform against other horses, to conceal No Frontiers’ (NZ) true capability from the broader betting market, in order to eventually race the horse and make a profit from betting on it through his and/or others’ accounts, which he did when No Frontiers ran on 3 May 2020.  

Charge 5 – AR 229(1)(f) Entering or running a horse under a fraudulently false description [Alternative to Charge 4]

The Stewards allege that Mr Finnegan knowingly jumped out No Frontiers (NZ) at the Cranbourne Jump Outs on 23 March 2020 under the name of stablemate Avozhina, and on 6 and 20 April 2020 under the name of stablemate Getemhel.

The charges issued against Mr Finnegan will be heard by Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

BEN THOMPSON

Stewards have issued the following charges against Mr Thompson:

Charge 1 – AR 232(i) False and/or misleading evidence

The Stewards allege that Mr Thompson gave false and/or misleading evidence to stewards during the Inquiry on 3 May 2020 and 11 May 2020.

Charge 2 – AR 228(b) Misconduct and/or improper conduct detrimental to the interests of racing

The Stewards allege that sometime between 3 and 11 May 2020, Mr Thompson deleted from his mobile phone, messages and/or call records between himself and Mr Finnegan and/or himself and another person that were or could have been relevant to the Inquiry.

The charges issued against Mr Thompson will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.