Modern warning-off doesn't carry quite the same weight Controversial racing figure: Eddie Hayson. Once, being warned off the racecourse - the full force of Racing NSW law that was handed down to Eddie Hayson this week - was in the same category as being defrocked, drummed out of the regiment or blackballed. The lure of the turf was so strong that being denied entry was a severe penalty and extreme measures were taken to illegally maintain a presence. At least Hayson, a former racehorse owner and punter, has been given a set sentence of six months; the Australian Jockey Club, former dispenser of racing justice, would hand down a ruling of the "committee's pleasure" that could extend from now to the 12th of never. Of course, if Racing NSW really wanted to put the boot in, it would have made Hayson go to Sydney meetings every Saturday for six months - and made sure he stayed all day. Being off the course is hardly a penalty. Most wise guys don't want to go anyway. Modern-day racecourses are more for socialising than punting. Hayson's crime was refusing to provide stewards with names in connection with the Gai Waterhouse stable regarding the More Joyous debacle in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. In handing down the sentence it was decreed: "The consequences of being warned off include not being permitted to enter any racecourse or training facility, not being able to have an interest in any thoroughbred racehorse and not being able to place a bet on thoroughbred races with a wagering operator." Hayson won't have any trouble getting set, although if he wants to dabble with certain corporates he could be restricted to the price of a packet of Minties. When Hayson was a plunger, at the top of his game and buying yearlings, Ray Murrihy, the Racing NSW chief steward, was counselled by a Racing NSW board member about being too severe on him. But the AJC played hard ball with offenders, particularly those it didn't much fancy. For instance, Rufe Naylor, bookmaker, punter and promoter, didn't cop it sweet when the AJC fell on him in 1934 in a case similar to Hayson's. He was found guilty of giving false and misleading evidence in a stewards' inquiry and warned off, which led to a lengthy legal battle. He won the first two rounds in court but the AJC appealed to the Privy Council in Britain and scored a knockout. Making a reappearance after the earlier court decisions in his favour Naylor was still escorted from Canterbury and took out a £10,000 writ against the AJC. "Hollywood" George Edser just couldn't stay away either when he was warned off in the 1960s. After 18 years out in the cold he was allowed to return. In the meantime he had looked over the fence from a home-made stand, and was frog-marched out of the long grass at Warwick Farm, using language unbecoming. Not so Robbie and Bill Waterhouse after they were given the committee's pleasure over the Fine Cotton ring-in in 1984. "You could write what I knew about it [the ring-in] on the back of a postage stamp," Bill stressed. The AJC took away 17 years of my livelihood and destroyed my career on the most obscure charge - prior knowledge. Still there was no doubt about the guilt of Grafter Kingsley, given life in 1903 for rigging scales in Newcastle. Kingsley positioned an accomplice to manipulate the weights via a tunnel under the scales. Kingsley, though, would not be denied his racing. He had a double-decker bus parked outside the track to give him vision over the fence, taking this step after being escorted from Randwick 16 times on the same program. During the 1918 peace celebrations the AJC took mercy and allowed Kingsley, described as the "wiliest turf tactician of the century," back. Alas, Harry Solomons didn't end up with any accolades. On December 16, 1939, Solomons and his offsiders arranged for the radio broadcast of an Ascot race in Victoria to be silenced, technical difficulties being mentioned. Only the Solomons call for 3XY was heard after a "lengthy delay at the start." Buoyancy was mentioned as "pulling out," the code to informed punters to bet on him. Solomons later called the event with the correct result. Thousands of pounds were taken off SP and country bookmakers in NSW. Investigations followed. Solomons was advised he could face civil charges but was nonplussed. "It is not criminal because it is only defrauding starting-price bookmakers and they are illegal anyhow," he maintained. Later he realised the gravity of the situation and did a runner to Fiji, where he was apprehended and returned. He wasn't seen on a racecourse for six months, but hardly in the same circumstances as Hayson. HM Pentridge Prison didn't allow day leave.