Read the transcript of explosive call that landed Evans in hot water over bet

Trainer David Evans was this month fined more than £3,000 after a betting-related hearing in which the BHA found him guilty of breaching rule (A)30.1 – conduct prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and/or good reputation of horseracing.

Evans backed Black Dave before withdrawing stablemate – and market leader – Tango Sky in a 6f handicap at Wolverhampton in January 2015, but he avoided having his licence suspended and was fined a total of £3,140, including the penalty for not immediately notifying the Racing Calendar office of a non-runner.

The BHA on Wednesday published its notes from the disciplinary panel hearing, including the transcript from the phone conversation in which Evans placed a bet on Black Dave to the tune of £6,000 and discussed his intent to withdraw Tango Sky with a Ladbrokes trader.

The Evans-Ladbrokes transcript in full

Phone call on January 9, 2015: 08:43 – 2 minutes, 4 seconds

JT: Jeremy Thomas, trading
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

Timeline of events on the raceday

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

If you were interested in this you should also read:

Bookmaker's dealings with Evans leave a sour taste for punters

Evans relieved with 'lenient' fine after expecting ban

Ladbrokes Coral insist trainers get no better odds than ordinary punters

Trainers told they could lose licence over bookie links after Evans case