Kieren Fallon News
7 February 2008: Kieren Fallon resumes link to Sir Michael Stoute
Confirming that he wanted to go back to riding after serving his ban, Kieren Fallon announced that in the meantime he would be riding out for Sir Michael Stoute at his Newmarket yard.
25 January 2008: Kieren Fallon's appeals
Kieren Fallon is to appeal against his 18-month ban for a failed drugs test.
Fallon's ban came from the French racing authority France Galop following a positive B sample in August 2007.
18 December 2007: Kieren Fallon's tests positive
The BBC and others have reported how Kieren Fallon has failed a drugs test.
7 December 2007: Kieren Fallon's trial collapses
Kieren Fallon, Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams amongst others have been cleared of race-fixing, after the judge, Mr Justice Forbes directed the jury to find the defendants not guilty of conspiracy to defraud customers of betting exchange Betfair, saying: "It is abundantly clear that his evidence fell far, far short of establishing a prima facie breach of UK racing rules."
9 October 2007: Kieren Fallon's trial gets going
This week finally saw many of the 'legals' out of the way and the trial proper get going. The BBC has an account of how the trial against Kieren Fallon and others has started.
12 July 2007: Fallon pleads not guilty
Kieren Fallon has pleaded not guilty in a pre-trial hearing to a charge of conspiracy to defraud.
Kieren Fallon, Fergal Lynch, Miles Rodgers, Philip Sherkle, and Shaun Lynch are due to go on trial at the Old Bailey on 24 September.
8 July 2006: Fallon: this is a waking nightmare
Writing in his column in The Sportsman today, Kieren Fallon wrote:
"This is a waking nightmare. Words cannot describe how awful this week has been for me. I always thought that a man was innocent until proved guilty. Just being charged in the first place left me staggered, but subsequent events have left me shell-shocked ..."
Fallon was writing in response to the news that the Horseracing Regulatory Authority had imposed a riding ban in Britain pending his trial, which is expected to start in 2007.
3 July 2006: Fallon finally charged
The City of London police announced that Kieren Fallon, 41, from Eire, had been charged with Conspiracy to Defraud Betfair Customers. Amongst others charged were Darren Williams and Fergal Lynch.
3 May 2005: Classic start for Fallon and Coolmore
Kieren Fallon had a double classic-winning weekend, with victories on Footsteps In The Sand in the 2000 Guineas and Virginia Waters in the 1000 Guineas.
It was the first Guineas double by the same owners, trainer and jockey since 1942, and the O'Brien - Fallon partnership was the first trainer - jockey team to complete the double since 1967.
Aidan O'Brien said of Fallon after the 2000 Guineas:
"He's great. He's a great horseman and is totally committed. He's a great jockey."
26 February 2005: Fallon Volte-Face as he becomes Ballydoyle Retained Jockey
Coolmore Stud PR Agency, Primus yesterday announced: "Owners John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith are delighted to announce that Kieren Fallon will be retained jockey for their horses at Ballydoyle and elsewhere for the 2005 season."
Earlier in the week the Racing Post had reported that Fallon had stopped off at the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados for talks with Magnier and Tabor.
It was only just over a week ago that Fallon was enjoying racing in the US but saying he wanted to avoid races on the 'dirt'. Then, if memory serves, he said that he enjoyed racing in England, and although he loves his native Ireland, he was not contemplating going there just yet.
Kieren Fallon had ruled himself out of the Ballydoyle job! It remains to be seen what rides Fallon will have for Sir Michael Stoute, having said two weeks ago:
"I'm very much committed to Sir Michael. Mine is a great job, with a lot of horses to ride for Sir Michael. I'm looking forward to riding Ouija Board and Motivator."
There is a curious paragraph in today's Racing Post which is beyond my understanding but I include for the record:
"The jockey must answer bail in April. His appointment for the 2005 season by three such powerful owners was interpreted by some last night as a sign that charges may not be brought."
14 December 2004: Fallon Disrepute Inquiry Dropped
The Jockey Club has dropped plans for a formal inquiry into whether Kieren Fallon and John Egan brought racing into disrepute following articles in the News of the World.
John Maxse, PR director for the Jockey Club, said:
"... After reviewing the dossier initially handed over by the News of the World, it was considered that there was evidence to warrant holding an inquiry which would seek to establish whether or not Kieren Fallon and John Egan, through their dealings with the reporters, were culpable for the ensuing negative coverage racing received.
"Since that decision was taken, however, additional material from the News of the World has been received. After examining the material in total and having taken advice from our legal team, we no longer consider that there is sufficient evidence to merit a disciplinary hearing."
Buffham to apologise to Fallon
8 September 2004 - According to Lee Mottershead in The Racing Post today: "Former Jockey Club security chief Roger Buffham will appear in the High Court today where he will issue an apology to Kieren Fallon over matters relating to a BBC Panorama programme ..."
1 September 2004: Fallon Bailed
Kieren Fallon has been released on bail after being questioned by police in an investigation into alleged race-fixing.
He was among 16 people, including jockeys Darren Williams and Fergal Lynch, and trainer Karl Burke arrested earlier today.
I have no details of the investigation and so can't comment on it. But, in terms of the public's view of horse racing there can be no turning the clock back. In one way there is a parallel with the increase in positive drugs test results in the Olympics. I believe there are two possible perspectives: one is a shock reaction that sport is increasingly 'dodgy' or the opposite point of view that, at last, sport is being cleaned up. Turning back to the specifics, there are again two possibilities - either some or all of the people are innocent or some or all are guilty. One thing is for sure - whichever's the case - it's a great shame.