'How do you propose that I live?' - emotional outburst of travelling head lad facing second ban for bad behaviour

Nigel Wakefield, who works as travelling head lad for Mick Appleby, has been banned from racing for a second time for bad behaviour, following a 2022 incident at Wolverhampton when he abused an official with a curse-laden tirade about ambulances taking up space in the horsebox park. Wakefield responded to the verdict of a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday with an emotional outpouring about the effect that a one-month ban will have on him.

"You've taken away my only income for the next month," he told panel chair Philippa Charles. "The BHA won't pay my money, will they?

"I would have much preferred that you put a financial penalty on me that I could pay off, as and when. As it is, you've taken away my income, which is pittance enough as it is. How do you propose that I live?

"It's taken you two and a half years, I've had the stress of this over the last year since you've dug it up again and now you do this to me. The BHA is in tatters, by the looks of things, if it takes two and a half years for something like this to come to this stage."

Charles responded: "I'm sorry that it's an unwelcome outcome for you but I'm afraid it is the consequence of your breach of the code of conduct." She added that the ban will not begin until written reasons are published in several days' time.

The incident occurred in late December 2022, when Wolverhampton's manager, Anthony Gledhill, was called to assist with a complaint. For the BHA, Charlotte Davison recounted the tale: "Before he had the chance to say anything, Mr Wakefield said words to the effect of: 'Come here, you. Come and let me show you. This is f*****g ridiculous.'

"Mr Gledhill's evidence was that he then felt as if he was frogmarched the 100 metres from the canteen to the horsebox park. As they reached the park area, Mr Wakefield said words including: 'This is an absolute f*****g disgrace, this, all of these f*****g ambulances parked here.''

Mick Appleby: stable employee Nigel Wakefield has been banned from racing for a second timeCredit: Laura Green

Davison acknowledged there were seven ambulances in the parking area but added there was still room for horse boxes. "It is accepted that Mr Wakefield was raising a legitimate concern but it is the manner in which he went about raising that concern that has placed him in breach of the code of conduct."

She described Gledhill as remonstrating with Wakefield, who responded: "I'll talk to you any f*****g way I want to, given your age." She added that Gledhill did not feel threatened but was "mortified that someone who is part of our sport feels that it is okay to behave in this way".

Wakefield admitted he was in breach of racing's code of conduct, which says: "Everyone must protect the dignity of others and treat each other with politeness, respect and kindness." But, in interviews with BHA investigators, he appears to have been unrepentant about his behaviour.

Davison reported him saying: "My manner has been the same for 60-odd years. It's not going to alter now ... I don't pussyfoot around anybody ... I have an aggressive tone, everybody knows that."

Wakefield was given a four-month ban in 2021 for conduct prejudicial to the sport. He had been convicted of assault for driving a horsebox into people directing traffic outside Chelmsford racecourse.

As part of his mitigation on that occasion, he mentioned the possibility of taking an anger management course but accepted on Tuesday that he had never done this. The BHA has now said it will arrange one for him.

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