Graham Bradley said yesterday he was looking forward to getting his life back in order after charges against him in relation to race fixing were dropped when he appeared before Bow Street Magistrates Court in London. Outside the court the smiling 38-year-old jockey, accompanied by girlfriend Amanda Wilson, said: "I'm very, very pleased and just looking forward to getting back riding again.
"I'm thankful to all my friends and family, all the `jocks' in the weighing-room and just looking forward to getting my life back to normal again."
Bradley also revealed his intention to get his riding licence back as soon as possible following its withdrawal by the Jockey Club when he was charged.
"I'm going to go round to the Jockey Club this afternoon and get an application form for my licence," he said.
"All I can do is look forward. I'll be back fairly shortly. I'm doing lots of walking and bits of exercise and my weight's good. I've put a couple of pounds on but I'm only about 10-8 stripped.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back in the saddle as soon as possible - as soon as I am offered a ride."
The Yorkshire-man is keen to put the experience of the past six months behind him.
"It's just been very depressing and very frustrating and embarrassing in a way," he told The Racing Channel. "It's obviously a massive shock but I am very pleased it is all over." Bradley had been charged in April with conspiracy to cheat following his January arrest by police conducting investigations into alleged race-fixing and doping.
Bradley's case revolved round his riding of odds-on Man Mood, pulled up in a two-horse race at Warwick in November, 1996.
Man Mood's trainer Charlie Brooks, who himself was cleared of any involvement on April 12th, never had any doubts about the outcome of the investigation.
He said: "Everyone is using this word `relief' but I don't really think it is the right word. I never had any doubt that this is where it would end and at no stage have I been given any inclination that there was any case against him or me, so it is not really relief."
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges, claiming "insufficient evidence to support a prosecution", but proceedings could be reactivated as police inquiries continued. P}
