Fallon barred from British racing

[Bigsmc]

from the BBC:

Fallon barred from British racing
Kieren Fallon has been suspended by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority from all racing in Britain after being charged with conspiracy to defraud.
The ex-champion jockey is one of eight people charged by City of London Police over race-fixing allegations.

The HRA has also suspended fellow jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, who face the same charge along with trainer Alan Berry.

The jockeys face specially arranged HRA appeal hearings on Friday 7 July.

Berry's hearing is scheduled for Tuesday 4 July.


As far as we are concerned, Fallon is innocent until proven guilty
Denis Egan
Irish Turf Club chief executive

Former racing syndicate director Miles Rodgers, Lynch's brother Shaun, farrier Steve O'Sullivan and Philip Sherkle, 39, are the other people charged with the same offences.
All those charged by police have been bailed and are due to appear in court on 17 July.

Fallon is licensed as a jockey in Ireland, and the Irish Turf Club has confirmed he will be able to continue riding there.

Irish Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said: "As far as we are concerned, Fallon is innocent until proven guilty."

The Jockeys' Association of Great Britain said: "We believe the example set by the Irish Turf Club in allowing Kieren Fallon to maintain his licence pending a conclusion to this matter is a sensible and fair approach.

"It would then be a matter for the employers in the sport as to whether they support such riders."

The 41-year-old Fallon, a six-time champion jockey, flew in from Ireland on Monday after winning a second successive Irish Derby on Sunday on board Dylan Thomas.


In addition, Rodgers, 37, Joanne Richardson, 27, Darren Armitage, 41, and Brian Pilkington, 70, have been charged over an offence relating to money laundering allegations.

City of London Police confirmed that 17 of the 28 people who answered bail on Monday have been released and are no longer involved in the case.

They include jockey Robert Winston, former rider Paul Bradley, amateur rider Dale Jewett and trainer Karl Burke.

The investigation, which began in September 2004, has examined allegations of conspiracy to defraud involving more than 80 races over two years.

During the investigation, more than 130 police officers raided 19 addresses across Suffolk, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Hertfordshire.

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Wilmott of City of London Police said the investigation - the largest of its type undertaken by the force - had started when Betfair approached the Jockey Club.

He said: "In early 2004, Betfair, an internet betting exchange, brought to the attention of the Jockey Club a number of what they considered to be irregular betting patterns.

"The security department of the Jockey Club undertook an investigation and came to the conclusion that there was potential criminality that could undermine the integrity of horse racing."

He added that Monday's events had followed consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service and a leading QC over whether charges should be brought.

During the investigation, 34 arrests were made, more than 500 interviews undertaken, at least 1,300 statements obtained, and almost 40,000 pages of evidence passed to the CPS.