Horse racing trainer loses licence over vile slur to neighbour and texts to teen
Successful trainer Milton Harris has been told he is no longer a suitable person to hold a licence.
Harris, a Grade 1-winning trainer over jumps, had his licence withdrawn by racing chiefs in November ahead of a licensing hearing. The outcome of a four day hearing held in private revealed the BHA’s licensing committee had determined he was no longer a “fit and proper person”.
The inquiry heard there were safeguarding concerns around his conduct with young employees after it was found he had sent “inappropriate” private messages to a teenage girl, who worked at the yard between the ages of 14 and 16., and set "a toxic tone" according to another girl who was 12 or 13.
The committee also said Harris had been “dishonest” with the BHA and was guilty of misconduct in dealings with others, including his next door neighbour, trainer Simon Earle who he called a “c***sucker”.
It said Harris conducted a campaign of “humiliation and harassment” of Earle and detailed an account of one incident, recorded by Earlie, in which Harris shouted: “Don’t talk to my staff or get out of the f****** (inaudible). You’re a nobody.
Teen 'kept as slave, starved and beaten' sues adoptive parents and authorities
“You’re kept - - you’re a kept man, you c***sucker. Kept. You’re kept. Mummy’s little boy. You’re f****** useless. You’re useless. Pathetic.”
The Committee’s findings were detailed in a 17,000 word report about Harris’s conduct during his second spell as a trainer.
He had spent seven years out of the sport from 2011 when his licence application was turned down after his business got into financial difficulties. He returned in 2018 as an employed trainer, with certain conditions placed on his licence. During his most successful spell he enjoyed a seasonal best of 56 winner in 2021-22, along with almost £600,000 in prize money, recording his first top level win with Knight Salute at the Grand National meeting.
However in the spring of 2023 further conditions were put in place under which he was not allowed any contact with certain individuals, forbidden from employing or providing accommodation for “any young person or adult at risk” nor attend certain race meetings.
According to the committee he was to breach those conditions by becoming a director of the training business as well as over the buying and selling of horses.
Jockey Paddy Brennan (left) on Knight Salute who gave Harris his biggest win at Aintree in 2022 (PA)Harris’s WhatsApp avatar was of an adult naked woman and he had given a teenager who worked at his yard the name ‘Lovely Young Girl’.
The committee said Harris did not recognise that his behaviour was inappropriate and that the subsequent introduction of safeguarding practice was insufficient.
Harris arranged for her to meet top jockey Hayley Turner to get some career advice. In a message sent while the two were in the car, Harris said of Turner, “Top class jockey! And attractive woman!!!! Both not bad goals!”
When the teenager responded that she was learning lots from Turner, Harris replied, “‘She’s lucky I am ten years’ too old.”
The committee said Harris "still thinks his adult jokes are funny and appropriate to share with children".
Death fears for Emmerdale's Sarah as teen rushed to A&E after exposing secret
"The BHA in our judgement is entitled to say enough is enough", declared the committee, adding it had "no faith" in Harris's promises that he could make amends.
They added: "We are driven to conclude that MH is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence to train racehorses and that the addition of conditions would make no difference to that conclusion."
Contacted by the PA news agency, Harris described himself as “disappointed” by the verdict, with a further response planned in the coming days. He said: “I’ve just seen the decision of the committee and I’m obviously disappointed.
“My immediate priority is to look after the horses, owners and long-serving staff here and in the immediate that will be my sole focus. I will make a statement (on the decision) in a few days’ time.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
