Racing: Jockey Club security chief resigns after television 'sting'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Jeremy Phipps, the Jockey Club director of security, has become the first casualty of the Panorama investigation into corruption in racing shown on BBC1 on Sunday. The former SAS officer resigned from his civilian post last night after a day of meetings with Jockey Club top brass at its Portman Square headquarters in London.
That Phipps would be the first to fall on his sword had been widely expected. In the view of many observers his position had become untenable after 3.9 million viewers watched him making critical and offensive comments about his then employers in an interview secretly filmed by his predecessor Roger Buffham, working for the Panorama team. He offered his resignation in a letter to the Jockey Club's senior steward, Christopher Spence.
Phipps, 60, retired as a major-general in the SAS in 1997 after a 37-year career as a frontline soldier, including a key role in the storming of the Iranian Embassy. His military service, much with the Queen's Own Hussars, was consistently distinguished; he was director of UK Special Forces from 1989 to 1993, and senior military adviser to the Sultanate of Oman in the four years before his retirement.
He joined the Jockey Club, the body responsible for the integrity of racing, 14 months ago after the removal of Buffham, who left under a cloud.
But it was his performance as a fall guy on screen on Sunday in the programme "The Corruption in Racing" that brought his downfall. He came over as ineffective and at one point had to be led away from camera by Jockey Club PR director John Maxse for instructions in what to say. After his foul-mouthed abuse of his employers, his excuse that he was only trying to curry favour with Buffham came only after Maxse's on-camera intervention. And after that showing, it was always going to be difficult for him command enough confidence among the racing public to allow him to work effectively.
Phipps's resignation letter says: "I very much regret that a 'trial by press' situation has been able to develop which has, I believe, made my position untenable. Panorama infringed the privacy of our meeting and recorded me making some pretty critical remarks that will be seen to be damaging to the Jockey Club, although you know they are not my real views."
He adds: "Rather unexpectedly I became the Jockey Club fall guy. To date I have served eight months as your director of security. Whilst some have described the post as a poisoned chalice I have really enjoyed the challenge and believe have achieved some good results.
"I have a good, loyal and professional team who have been very supportive, especially most recently. I wish to take an honourable approach over this whole affair to save any further embarrassment to you and the Jockey Club and must therefore offer you my resignation."
Before yesterday's meeting at Portman Square, Phipps still maintained some bravado, saying: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Quite.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments