Evans was fined a total of £3,140 with regard to a betting-related breach after betting with Ladbrokes detailing Tango Sky would be a non-runner before informing the Racing Calendar.
He breached rule (A) 30.1 conduct prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and/or good reputation of horse racing.
Evans backed Black Dave before informing withdrawing stablemate Tango Sky. He should have notified the Racing Calendar office of the non-runner immediately.
The trainer placed a bet of £6,000 on Black Dave and discussed his intent to withdraw Tango Sky.
Read the full transcript between Evans and Jeremy Thomas, trading for Ladbrokes.
Phone call on January 9, 2015: 08:43 – 2 minutes, 4 seconds
JT: Jeremy Thomas, trading
DE: David Evans, trainer
DE: David Evans, trainer
Call starts
JT: Ladbrokes, Jeremy speaking
DE: Morning Jeremy
JT: You all right?
DE: Yeah
JT: Good, good
DE: I want a good bet
JT: You want a good bet?
DE: If you can give me it? Yeah
JT: Go on
DE: Yeah, Black Dave
JT: Where is that running today?
DE: Wolverhampton in the first
JT: The first at Wolverhampton. (pause) How much you looking for Dave?
DE: A good bit. Are you in a good mood are ya?
JT: Not really. No
DE: Why? Why? Ain't your money.
Both laughing
DE: You will probably win it anyway
JT: How much you looking for? I can do you a bit of 4-1
DE: I’m looking for six grand
JT: Six grand, okay just two seconds Dave
DE: Yep
At this point JT is asking senior trader Tony Milburn if he wants the bet
JT: Six grand at four
DE: Yeah
JT: That’s on for you Dave, yeah
DE: Right
JT: What’s the message there then? Just....(inaudible)
DE: Can I tell you something?
JT: Oh, you’ve got the other one there haven’t you?
DE: Yeah
JT: All right okay. Fair enough
DE: Ain't gonna run
JT: It’s not going to go, no?
DE: Right, does that help you out?
JT: It will do, yeah, yeah
DE: Yeah
JT: What time is that getting pulled out? Can you....
DE: Ooh, I don’t know
JT: Okay
DE: Before nine o’clock, you don’t pay the jockey
(JT laughing)
JT: Oh really
DE: Hey, so that bet is on is it?
JT: So 8.59 that are coming out is it?
DE: No, I don’t know
(Both laughing)
JT: All right mate, that’s on for you, yes
DE: Thanks Jeremy
JT: Okay, cheers then, thanks Dave
DE: Right
Call concluded
JT: Ladbrokes, Jeremy speaking
DE: Morning Jeremy
JT: You all right?
DE: Yeah
JT: Good, good
DE: I want a good bet
JT: You want a good bet?
DE: If you can give me it? Yeah
JT: Go on
DE: Yeah, Black Dave
JT: Where is that running today?
DE: Wolverhampton in the first
JT: The first at Wolverhampton. (pause) How much you looking for Dave?
DE: A good bit. Are you in a good mood are ya?
JT: Not really. No
DE: Why? Why? Ain't your money.
Both laughing
DE: You will probably win it anyway
JT: How much you looking for? I can do you a bit of 4-1
DE: I’m looking for six grand
JT: Six grand, okay just two seconds Dave
DE: Yep
At this point JT is asking senior trader Tony Milburn if he wants the bet
JT: Six grand at four
DE: Yeah
JT: That’s on for you Dave, yeah
DE: Right
JT: What’s the message there then? Just....(inaudible)
DE: Can I tell you something?
JT: Oh, you’ve got the other one there haven’t you?
DE: Yeah
JT: All right okay. Fair enough
DE: Ain't gonna run
JT: It’s not going to go, no?
DE: Right, does that help you out?
JT: It will do, yeah, yeah
DE: Yeah
JT: What time is that getting pulled out? Can you....
DE: Ooh, I don’t know
JT: Okay
DE: Before nine o’clock, you don’t pay the jockey
(JT laughing)
JT: Oh really
DE: Hey, so that bet is on is it?
JT: So 8.59 that are coming out is it?
DE: No, I don’t know
(Both laughing)
JT: All right mate, that’s on for you, yes
DE: Thanks Jeremy
JT: Okay, cheers then, thanks Dave
DE: Right
Call concluded
Timeline of events on the day:
8.35am Black Dave priced at 4-1 with Ladbrokes
8.38am Black Dave is shortened to 7-2
8.43am David Evans places a £6,000 bet on Black Dave with Ladbrokes at improved odds of 4-1 and informs the firm Tango Sky will be a non-runner
8.46am Black Dave is shortened to 100-30
8.47am Tango Sky is shortened to 3-1 (from 7-2), increasing the rule 4 to 25p in a £1
9.02am Black Dave shortens to 11-4 following bets from owners at the yard
9.04am Black Dave shortens to 5-2
9.39am Tango Sky is declared a non-runner and a new market is subsequently formed
8.38am Black Dave is shortened to 7-2
8.43am David Evans places a £6,000 bet on Black Dave with Ladbrokes at improved odds of 4-1 and informs the firm Tango Sky will be a non-runner
8.46am Black Dave is shortened to 100-30
8.47am Tango Sky is shortened to 3-1 (from 7-2), increasing the rule 4 to 25p in a £1
9.02am Black Dave shortens to 11-4 following bets from owners at the yard
9.04am Black Dave shortens to 5-2
9.39am Tango Sky is declared a non-runner and a new market is subsequently formed
Thoughts: By all accounts, David Evans breached the rules of the BHA probably unaware his messages were being recorded and, perhaps, unfortunate that this information was leaked. I have seen numerous occasions where many and varied trainers have had late non-runners after significant betting moves and jockey changes which begs the question: ''Is this rife in the sport of kings with many trainers using inside information to make calculated bets?'' It would seem such a natural endeavour to many that I doubt Evans even considered the ethics of his statement. It is clearly wrong, but I suspect it is a ploy used on a very regular basis by unknown trainers and owners who fancy a flutter.