Fallon called before disciplinary panel

Champion jockey Kieren Fallon has been called before the Jockey Club disciplinary panel over recent newspaper allegations.

The Jockey Club said today that, having studied all the material provided by the News of the World, it had informed the solicitor representing both Fallon and fellow-jockey John Egan that they would be required to attend an inquiry.

This will seek to establish whether they acted in a manner prejudicial to the integrity and good reputation of horseracing in respect of their dealings with, conversations with, and various statements made to undercover reporters.

The panel will also seek to establish whether Fallon committed a breach of the rules by communicating information about horses which was not publicly available, for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind.

No date has been set for the inquiry, although the Jockey Club has informed the two riders it wants the matter dealt with as soon as possible.

In a four-page article published on March 7 and described as the “sports scandal of the decade”, the News Of The World alleged that Fallon told undercover journalists before a race at Lingfield that eventual winner Rye would beat his mount Ballinger Ridge.

Further material was published in the newspaper on March 14 and a dossier delivered to the Jockey Club.

Fallon has insisted he was completely innocent of allegations of race-fixing, stating that such claims were “completely ridiculous”.

The Jockey Club security department’s investigation into irregular betting patterns on the Lingfield race is on-going and is separate to the disciplinary panel hearing into the News Of The World allegations.

Fallon was suspended for 21 days for failing to ride out Ballinger Ridge and is set to return to the saddle at Kempton on Saturday.

The horse was beaten a short head by Rye after Fallon eased down when well clear approaching the final furlong.

Irregular betting patterns on a betting exchange had initially prompted the controversial race to be referred for investigation by the Jockey Club.