Burke: I've never been involved in race-fixing

Trainer Karl Burke, one of four charged by the British Horseracing Authority with breaches of the Rules of Racing, has spoken of the distress that the long-running case is causing him and his family.

Burke, jockeys Darren Williams and Fergal Lynch as well as former owner Miles Rodgers were all charged by the BHA, as racing's regulators began the process of wrapping up a saga that has been ongoing since 2004.

The four were all acquitted after the collapse of the Old Bailey race-fixing trial in December 2007 and the new charges come after the BHA concluded a review of legal documents to which they didn't have access following the trial.

The trainer is charged, among other things, with misleading a BHA investigating officer and failing to mention monies accepted from Miles Rodgers over the purchase of racehorse Khanjar in 2004. Burke, who trains at Spigot Lodge stables in Middleham, said: "I have never been involved in race-fixing and I was not charged with any offence despite an exhaustive police inquiry at the time.

"Four and a half years have passed since that time and I thought the episode which caused me and my family much distress was well and truly behind me."

Burke, who had a winner at Lingfield yesterday when Electric Warrior - ridden by Williams - was a winning favourite, added: "Nearly six years ago I entered into a legitimate property deal with two people who were at the time owners of horses at Spigot Lodge - one of whom, Miles Rodgers, later became a warned-off person