Fallon hit with 21-day ban
The Jockey Club made it clear yesterday that the ban was for a riding offence only, and did not preclude further measures being taken after an investigation into allegations made in a News Of The World article yesterday.
The Lingfield race whipped up a storm after Fallon was caught and beaten a short head after easing down when well clear.
He was found to be in breach of racing's rules on the day in that he failed to ride out for first place, and the matter was subsequently referred on to the Jockey Club as unusual betting patterns were reported beforehand by exchange firm Betfair.
Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse said after the inquiry: "Having consulted with Kieren Fallon's solicitors and also taken legal advice of our own, it was decided that a 21-day penalty could be imposed for his failure to ride out for first place at Lingfield last week."
The suspension will be from Tuesday, March 16, until Thursday, April 8, on days on which Flat racing is scheduled to take place.
Maxse said: "The dossier on the newspaper allegations revealed over the weekend will be delivered to the Jockey Club on Tuesday evening.
"We will then study that and continue with that investigation, which will include interviews with Kieren Fallon and, if necessary, other riders as well."
Fallon's lawyer, Christopher Stewart-Moore, said the ban had been agreed to by the jockey. "We have made formal admission of a breach and it is called non-wilful breach of rule 156, which I think is not riding a horse out to the finish line.
"I have given him (Fallon) my advice; he has taken my advice and he is agreeing to 21 days' suspension."
Fallon flew back to Britain from Spain yesterday and was involved in a fracas with waiting media.
Staff at Stansted Airport in Essex said the rider was aware of the press pack awaiting his return, and was reluctant to leave international arrivals at the airport. However, he eventually emerged after his flight touched down from Malaga and made a dash with a waiting friend for a car.
The media circus also went to Lingfield Park yesterday, as television crews threatened to outnumber punters at the leafy Surrey track. However, most punters seemed to be standing firm behind the champion.
"Of course it wasn't fixed," said regular racegoer Roger Coleman, from Guildford. "I was stood in my usual place on the rail that day and when he came past me 50 yards from the finish he was riding the ears off that horse. It's just not humanly possible to judge it so that you could deliberately get beaten like that.
"The horse is a total monkey I have my severe doubts as to whether the horse would have won, however, he had been ridden."
Professional punter and racehorse owner Dave Nevison said that he was waiting for more evidence before drawing any conclusions, either about Fallon or the race.
"I think the only firm thing we can say so far is what a hell of a tipster he is," Nevison said. "Anyone who can tip seven out of 10 winners (as claimed by the News Of The World), including a couple at big prices or whatever it was knows their stuff."
