McCoy happy to see Fallon return
Tony McCoy was quick to express his delight after Kieren Fallon was freed to ride in Britain again following the collapse of the trial at the Old Bailey.
McCoy, who has been crowned champion National Hunt jockey in Britain for the past 12 seasons, is full of admiration for Fallon and believes the Irishman has every right to feel aggrieved by his treatment over the past 18 months.
“From my personal point of view, I am a racing fan and I like watching racing, and I certainly like watching Flat racing more when Kieren Fallon is riding,” McCoy said.
“In my opinion he’s been one of the greatest Flat jockeys we have seen for a long, long time, and his record suggests that.
“I think if I was in his position I would feel very hard done by watching horses you would have ridden going out and winning Classics when you’re sat at home and you’re not guilty.
“I think most genuine racing fans will be very happy to see Kieren Fallon back riding races again,” he told Racing UK.
McCoy does not believe there is large-scale corruption within racing and that the decision to suspend the licences of Fallon, Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, who were also acquitted, was a little heavy-handed.
He added: “In fairness, I think on the whole it’s very professional in every sense.
“I think it has improved and I wouldn’t like racing to have any corruption in it from my point of view. It’s what I earn my living from and what I love doing, so obviously the cleaner it is kept the better.
“If I was in their position I would feel very bitter about it, as you should be innocent until proven guilty.”
John McCririck believes racing still has corruption concerns but is pleased to see Fallon exonerated of any involvement.
McCririck said: “The background to this is the inherent corruption in racing.
“In the last two or three years, 13 jockeys have lost their licences for various theories on corruption charges.
“There is a cancer inside racing but, clearly, it did not involve Kieren Fallon.”
McCririck hopes the sensational headlines that accompanied the progress of the trial will not have damaged racing’s image too severely.
He also hopes the betting exchanges, which have undeniably opened the door to unscrupulous gambling activity, are also a major tool in the fight against corruption.
Speaking on BBC News 24, he continued: “The job of all sports authorities is to present the best image of the sport, but now the horse racing authorities have really taken on the issue of corruption.
“Now because of the betting exchanges you are able to lay horses to lose, as well as back them to win.
“The other side of this is that it opens up what goes on in the background of racing.
“Bookmakers used to quote ’confidentiality’ of their clients, but Betfair is absolutely open and transparent.”
Willie Carson won five jockeys’ championships over the course of his career in the saddle – one fewer than Fallon – and he said: “There will always be the certain one or two bad apples about that are trying to make an easy buck.
“That happens in every walk of life and racing is no different.
“But in racing, they do try very hard to get rid of those bad apples when they do turn up.”
Walter Swinburn, who partnered the great Shergar among others during his successful career as a jockey before being granted a trainer’s licence, is happy for Fallon.
He believes racing’s public image is now stronger than ever and predicts an imminent race-riding return for Fallon in Britain.
Swinburn said: “I’m delighted for him. People have talked about it being a weight off his shoulders, but that’s an understatement.
“I’m sure he’ll be really keen to get back riding again. The best racing is still here in England, and we shouldn’t forget that.
“I think this can only make it (racing) stronger because it is cleared now.
“I believe this is the third go (the police have had) investigating our great sport, and it can only get stronger.”
