Former champion jockey Kieren Fallon has been charged at a London police station with conspiracy to commit fraud as part of an inquiry into an alleged betting conspiracy in Britain.
Kieren Fallon
The Irish jockey is due to appear in court on July 17th. In a statement today, John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor - for whom Fallon rides - said they had been assured by the jockey that he was innocent of the charges.
Fallon, who flew in from Ireland after winning the Irish Derby yesterday, was charged this morning after a police investigation that spanned more than two years. He arrived at the police station at 9.15am, and left just over 20 minutes later without making any comment to waiting reporters.
Miles Rodgers, the former chairman of the Platinum Racing Club, has also been charged with conspiracy to defraud.
The investigation followed irregular betting on the Internet exchange Betfair. The inquiry has been looking at more than 80 races and more than 130 officers have worked on the case. At least 19 addresses have been raided.
A total of 28 people were answering bail at Bishopsgate police station in London as part of the inquiry into an alleged betting conspiracy.
Police have confirmed that three others have also been charged. Jockeys Darren Williams (27) of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, and Fergal Lynch (28) of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers, and are also due to appear in court on July 17th. Joanne Richardson (27) of Silkstone, South Yorkshire, was also charged this morning, accused of an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
One person answering bail this morning has been released without charge.
Other jockeys due to attend the police station today include Irish rider Robert Winston and Paul Bradley.
Trainers Alan Berry and Karl Burke have also been arrested as part of the inquiry, but they will not have to answer bail until later in the year.