THE careers of two promising young jockeys - Brian Reilly and Dean Williams - were effectively ended this week.

There's nothing to stop the pair from reapplying for their riding licences after they have served an 18-month ban for their part in a race-fixing scam that netted disgraced bookie Owen Churchill over #56,000.

But both men have been found guilty of not gaining the best placing on a horse, in the knowledge it had been laid to lose.

And it's hard to see how any owner, trainer or punter can fully trust either jockey again.

On Tuesday, 24 hours after learning their fate, Reilly and Williams announced their intention to appeal.

Both cited the financial hardship they would suffer as a result of not being able to ride - Reilly said he had a mortgage to pay, and Williams told of a wife and child to support.

Unless their appeals succeed, the pair are indeed in for a lean time of it over the next year and a half.

But the Horseracing Regulatory Authority panel that handed down the sentences were lenient - the penalties for such offences actually start at two years - with six months being knocked off because it was accepted Churchill had 'groomed' the duo.

'Grooming' is a term normally associated with internet paedophiles, whose prey are too young and inexperienced to realise the motives of their 'friends'.

But Reilly and Williams are both in their mid-20's and, although evidently still wet behind the ears when it came to dealings with racing's bad apples, are old enough to have known better.

However amiable a fraudster might seem, a rider has a choice when confronted with the option to join his scam.

He could refuse, and inform racing's authorities of what he's been asked to do, or he can go along with the scheme and profit as a result.

With the latter, he sticks two fingers up at everyone who, through thick and thin times, tries to make an honest living out of this sport.

If Churchill won over #56,000, then someone had to lose that amount - and I can't see how the conspirators deserve sympathy.

-A last word on the Sports Personality Of 2006 - and I promise I won't mention it again until this time next year.

Several conspiracy theorists have this week voiced the view that the vote - which snubbed Tony McCoy - was rigged in order for Zara Phillips to win, 35 years after her mother, the Princess Royal.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories - what happens when one of those on the inside becomes disillusioned and spills the beans?

But I have no doubt the programme had an agenda which made it impossible for Sky's big names - and that doesn't include Zara - to scoop the award.

Phil Taylor, 13-times darts world champion, hardly got a word in.

Outstanding boxers Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton, who have never thrown a punch on one of Auntie's channels, had to wait until the end of the two-hour special to get a mention, by which time most of the votes had been cast.

In other words, AP, you were better off in Carl Llewellyn's front room - even if he is too tight to turn the heating on.