Jockey Club considers Hughes bet-claim inquiry

Jockey Club officials are to consider whether to hold an inquiry into Kieren Fallon’s claims that weighing-room colleague Richard Hughes backed himself to win last year’s jockeys’ championship.

Hughes is currently riding abroad but has flatly denied the claim made in a Sunday newspaper.

Fallon, speaking from an Irish centre where he is undergoing treatment for an alcohol problem, was discussing last year’s championship race with a reporter.

He was quoted as saying: “Last season, it was only when Richard Hughes got cocksure and had a bet on himself to win the title that I thought ‘f****** hell, I have to do something here’.”

The Jockey Club’s PR Director John Maxse believes the riders’ current locations make any immediate investigation difficult.

“At the moment, all we appear to have is a reference made by Kieren and a straightforward denial from Richard Hughes,” Maxse said.

“Furthermore, right now it is quite a difficult time to make any inquiries as Kieren is unavailable in Ireland undergoing treatment and Richard is riding abroad.

“We will take into account the context of the situation and will consider whether any further investigation is required.”

Maxse also confirmed the Jockey Club will soon introduce random breathalyser tests for jockeys.

“It is hard to say exactly when the tests will come into force. All the procedures have been completed form this end. There’s just a few practical issues to resolve,” he said.

“The level will be similar to that for driving a car and we think the breathalyser will be a strong deterrent.”

Maxse played down any worries about there being a widespread alcohol problem within the riding ranks and pointed to the urine testing they do at present as evidence.

“We have only had one positive test for alcohol since testing was introduced in 1994 and the explanation for that was accepted by the disciplinary committee,” he added.

“Although some high-profile jockeys have admitted to a determination to beat their problems, these problems don’t seem to have been brought to the track.”

Irish bookmakers Paddy Power today reopened their betting on the 2003 Flat Jockeys’ Championship.

They have Fallon as evens favourite with Hughes at 9-4.