Racing: Fallon, 7 others charged in fixing probe

LONDON - Kieren Fallon, one of horse racing's most successful jockeys, was charged with conspiracy to defraud on Monday as part of a police probe into alleged race-fixing.

Fallon, six times champion jockey and three times winner of the Epsom Derby, was one of eight people, including two other jockeys, charged in connection with the biggest investigation of its kind ever undertaken in Britain.

Police named the other seven as Miles Rodgers, 37, Joanne Richardson, 27, Darren Williams, 27, Fergal Lynch, 28, Darren Armitage, 41, Brian Pilkington, 70 and Philip Sherkle, 39.

Williams and Lynch are both jockeys. Rodgers is a former racing syndicate director.

In a statement, City of London police said the eight had been charged "with offences relating to allegations of fixing the outcome of horse races between December 1, 2002, and September 2, 2004, and money laundering..."

All were bailed to appear before magistrates on July 17.

Fallon arrived at a London police station straight from Ireland where he rode the colt Dylan Thomas to victory in the Irish Derby at The Curragh on Sunday.

The owners of that horse, John Magnier and Michael Tabor of the Coolmore operation, were among three men who pledged their support to Fallon in a statement in the light of the charges.

"John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, for whom Kieren Fallon rides, have been assured that Mr Fallon is innocent of these charges and look forward to his opportunity to defend himself, and to the early resolution of this issue," the three said.

The charge against Fallon comes 20 months after he was first arrested. He has continued to race successfully while under investigation.

After 20 minutes, the 41-year-old left the police station on Monday morning without talking to reporters, climbed into a silver Mercedes and was driven away.

In all, police have arrested 28 people over the last two years as part of their probe. So far on Monday they have charged eight, released eight and were due to consider the other cases later.

The Horseracing Regulatory Authority was due to issue a statement later on Monday on whether jockeys who have been charged can continue to ride in Britain in the meantime.

The police probe followed alleged irregular betting on an internet betting exchange which passed records from its tracking of betting patterns to racing's authorities.

Fallon is one of the sport's biggest names, known for his brilliant, forceful riding in a colourful career.

He shot to fame in the mid-1990s when he quit the modest North of England racing circuit and landed the plum job of stable jockey to trainer Henry Cecil at Newmarket.

He became champion jockey for the first time in 1997 and won the 1999 Epsom Derby for Cecil on Oath though the duo split soon afterward when Cecil's wife admitted having sex with a leading jockey. Fallon denied any involvement.

In 2003 he enjoyed a second victory in the Epsom Derby on Kris Kin and produced a dazzling ride on Islington to win one of the Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita in California. His third and most recent Epsom Derby triumph came on North Light in 2004.

In 1994, he was banned from racing for six months for pulling a rival jockey from his horse at the end of a race. Early in 2003, he spent 30 days in a treatment clinic after admitting an alcohol problem.

- REUTERS