The senior steward of the British Jockey Club has claimed that criminal gangs are involved in race fixing as a way of laundering millions of pounds of drug money and that it would not surprise him if some jockeys had accepted bribes in return for throwing races.

Christopher Spence said that the Jockey Club had uncovered "prima facie" evidence of criminal activity and that racing must clamp down on it if the sport's integrity is to be maintained.

Spence said: "There are some pretty naughty people around on the fringes of racing. I don't believe it is very great but there is a cell of criminal activity. If one speculates one has to take the view that this criminal activity is connected to the illegal betting market which is one of the few remaining avenues for drug money.

"And if, with all that money involved, there is the temptation for the odd jockey to ride outside the rules, then it wouldn't be a huge surprise to any of us. It's happened before and no doubt it will again - it's part of the intrigue of racing." Spence's comments come as police continue with a two-year investigation into race fixing which has led to the arrests of five jockeys, including 1988 Derby winner Ray Cochrane and National Hunt riders Dean Gallagher and Graham Bradley.

The former trainer Charlie Brooks was also arrested last month and all have been bailed to reappear at a central London police station on March 10th.

Spence added: "I hope by the next bail date of March 10th we'll know what's going to happen and who's going to be charged, if anyone. But I think it will be inevitable that there will be a howl against the Jockey Club for starting the whole thing in the first place."