KEY POINTS:
Kieren Fallon has made a habit of dominating the racing headlines and this year was no exception, though most of it was front page news and to say he had an annus horribilis would be an understatement.
The 41-year-old Irishman's genius as a jockey is not in dispute;
neither his inability to stay out of trouble.
However he has never faced as serious a situation as the one in which he presently finds himself.
After being charged with race fixing - as grave a charge as any in a sport which relies on integrity - Fallon soon found himself to be a pariah around the world.
Barred from England, Hong Kong and the United States he had even lost the support of France by the end of the year though this time not for alleged race fixing but for testing positive for a banned substance for which he received a six-year ban.
With Ireland having a reciprocal agreement with racing authorities around the world it seems only a matter of time before Fallon is marooned in a racing no man's land.
His much harassed solicitor said on the French ban: "Kieren is dismayed at this turn of events but understands that as it is a strict liability offence, France Galop has no alternative but to impose a suspension."
Dismayed is probably the mildest of the emotions swirling round the heads of Irish champion trainer Aidan O'Brien and the billionaires who pay Fallon's lucrative contract.
Thus far John Magnier, who tangled with Manchester United soccer boss Sir Alex Ferguson over what breeding financial rights the Scot had to his star racehorse Rock Of Gibraltar and almost brought the great manager down, has stood loyally by Fallon but with him due to miss the early classics in Ireland and France his patience may wear out.
Fallon, though, realises the seriousness of his predicament.
"I need to be riding in England, that's where most of our horses are targeted," he said.
He was not the only one to have his problems with banned substances as the four-legged variety also landed in hot water with the French authorities.
In that case it was wonder horse Deep Impact who arrived in France heralded as Japan's best chance of landing Europe's and some would say the world's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
His incredible reputation in Japan was borne out as thousands of Japanese race fans travelled over just for the race.Specially-arranged betting booths were laid on for the Japanese, who backed the horse down to 1-2 favourite.
Deep Impact's third place, while honourable, was a disappointment, though, nothing like the depression that set in when it was revealed he had been doped and was subsequently disqualified.
There is nothing like bouncing back to erase memories of a shaming moment and jockey Yutaka Take and Deep Impact did just that two months later when they won the Japan Cup.
Beaten into third in the Japan Cup was the indefatigable English mare Ouija Board, but the hardy 5-year-old had already written herself into the legends of the turf by winning the group one Nassau Stakes and trumped it with a second win in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf race in the United States.
"She's the best, and there's no other way of saying it," summed up her trainer Ed Dunlop and few would disagree, least of all Fallon who rode her to her first Breeders' Cup success two years ago.
Few would disagree as well that Fallon, at his peak, is the best rider around and many will hope he redeems himself as Deep Impact did this year otherwise his fall from grace will cast a dark shadow over the Sport of Kings.
- AFP
