FRANKIE DETTORI escaped without punishment despite being found guilty of refusing to ride at the end of a two day inquiry into the actions of the "Haydock 21" yesterday.

He was the only rider found to be in breach of the rules of racing as his 20 other colleagues were cleared by a disciplinary committee that accepted that they had not staged a strike before the Sycamore Nursery.

Dettori was catching a plane to Dubai when the result of the 20 hour hearing was announced to the Jockeys' Association representatives and riders Pat Eddery, George Duffield and Jimmy Quinn.

It was an unfortunate misunderstanding," said Eddery. "We had a good hearing and I am thrilled by the result. There was just a communication breakdown on the day, but it will never happen again.

The inquiry was held to investigate the circumstances that resulted in the abandonment of the October 16th meeting after Just one race when the riders expressed their concern about the safety of the course.

In all 11 of the 21 jockeys involved in the race gave evidence as well as the chairman of the panel of stewards, two stewards' secretaries, the clerk of the course and inspector of courses.

Jockeys Walter Swinburn and Willie Ryan plus trainer Peter Chapple Hyam appeared as witnesses. Their evidence is contained in a four page account of the events which details the confusion that preceded the abandonment announcement.

"Having considered the evidence the committee found all the jockeys with the exception of Dettori, not to be in breach of either Rules 143 or 220 (iii) because it accepted that they were prepared to ride," a statement said.

"It found Dettori to be in breach of Rule 143 but not Rule 220 (iii). Having regard to the circumstances the committee decided not to impose any penalty."