Jockey Club to decide on Fallon's fate

The Jockey Club was expected to decide whether to suspend champion jockey Kieren Fallon after his horse failed to win a race …

The Jockey Club was expected to decide whether to suspend champion jockey Kieren Fallon after his horse failed to win a race despite having a huge lead.

Fallon faces a maximum 21-day ban after stewards ruled he had failed to properly push the horse, Ballinger Ridge, to the finish line at Surrey's Lingfield race course last Tuesday.

At a regular monthly meeting, racing's regulator will decide on how best to proceed with the jockey's case while a separate investigation continues into "unusual betting" patterns reported before the race.

Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse said: "The Jockey Club will make a decision as to whether Kieren Fallon's suspension for failing to obtain the best possible placing on Ballinger Ridge can take effect while the security department's investigation into the betting patterns is still ongoing."

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Fallon was heavily criticised after his horse came second despite leading most of the way.

The controversy deepened yesterday after claims surfaced in the News Of The Worldthat Fallon told undercover reporters before the race that he would lose and that Rye - the horse that overtook Ballinger Ridge - would triumph.

The newspaper alleged Fallon told its team of undercover reporters: "I'm actually down as the favourite. It's not very good. The horse of Jamie Osborne's going to win the race. A horse called Rye."

The paper also claimed Fallon - the UK's champion jockey for six out of the past seven years - gave his opinion on other races during a meeting with reporters on Friday but "declined a cash payment" for such information.

"If you are on this, then there are no limits to the bets. It's not illegal for you, it's illegal for us. As long as you don't give me money," Fallon was quoted as saying.

Fallon's lawyer told the newspaper that his client had merely offered advice to people whom the jockey had been led to believe were members of the public.

PA