RACING: Jeremy Phipps, director of security at the Jockey Club, has paid the ultimate price for his contribution to the BBC's Panorama programme The Corruption of Racing, it was confirmed last night.
Phipps has resigned from his position having come under intense pressure since featuring in a covertly-taped conversation with his predecessor, Roger Buffham, who turned whistle-blower on the show which attacked racing's regulators and claimed the 'Sport of Kings' was "institutionally corrupt".
Senior steward Christopher Spence said in a statement last night: "I accepted Jeremy Phipps' resignation with great regret as in his short time with the Jockey Club, first as acting head of security and then as director of security, he has contributed a great deal."
On Sunday's broadcast Phipps was seen telling Buffham, who left Portman Square under a cloud last year, that the Jockey Club is lacking in "backbone".
"It is actually the backbone that isn't terribly strong," he said, before going on to describe Jockey Club members as "f--king ignorant" and the licensing system as "c ". And the moment that made every viewer cringe came when Phipps was shown being confronted with a transcript of the meeting.
Initially he denied making the comments but then, taken aside by colleague John Maxse - the Jockey Club's public relations director - and reminded of the context of the conversation, Phipps returned to the camera to explain that he made comments to put Buffham at ease.
Spence continued: "I think it is a great pity that incidents relating to the filing of the Panorama programme have culminated in Jeremy's resignation, but I am pleased that he has agreed to help with the transitional arrangements."
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