Newmarket trainer Nick Littmoden was hit with a £1,500 fine at a hearing of the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee in London today.
He was found to have committed breaches of Rule 220 (viii) of the Rules of Racing in respect of:
(i) His false response of "Not Applicable" to the question, 'If the Principal Yard (or any Additional Yard) is not to be in your sole ownership, give details of arrangements under which they are occupied, together with details of the period of any Lease and Tenancy to be agreed and date of expiry. A copy of any Lease or Agreement must accompany this application,' on page 2 of the Application Form For A Change Of Stables, signed and dated on February 2nd 1999, and submitted to the Secretary to the Licensing Committee two days later.
(ii) His false statement, in the covering letter which accompanied his Application Form for A Change Of Stables, that he had "purchased Southgate Stables in Newmarket".
(iii) His false statements to Mark Beecroft, a Jockey Club Investigating Officer, during his Change of Stables inspection at Southgate Stables on February 9th 1999 to the effect that "he was the owner of the premises" and that "he and members of his family had raised sufficient funds to buy the premises outright and that no mortgage was required".
Having considered the evidence, including a statement from Littmoden, who was legally represented, the committee accepted an admission from him that he was in breach of the rule on all three counts and imposed the fine.
Another Newmarket trainer in trouble at Portman Square was Ed Dunlop, who was fined £600 at a separate inquiry after Jet Age tested positive to a prohibited substance after the gelding finished third at Chester in June.
Peter Harris was also fined £600 after the trainer had failed to keep a proper medication record as required for El Curioso, winner of the EBF Queenpot Maiden Stakes at Salisbury in July, who tested positive to prohibited substances.
El Curioso was disqualified from the race.
