This article is from page 88 of the 2007-06-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 88 JPG
CLARE jockey Kieren Fallon takes his fight for racing justice to the Brit- ish High Court this Tuesday in a bid to have fixing allegations levelled against him by City of London Police thrown out.
Lawyers representing the Ballinru- an legend, who is six times champion jockey in England and a three-time Epsom Derby winner, are confident OE DE AAU NTSANO LemOd OT-DuUcXoiMO DRANK oLem
This would clear the way for Fal- lon’s return to the saddle on the Brit- ish circuit for the Aidan O’Brien sta- ble. It comes in the same week that he’s due to return to action in Ireland at this Thursday’s seven-race card in
Tipperary after serving a six-month ban for failing a drugs test.
In July 2006, Fallon, along with seven others, was charged with con- spiring to defraud the internet bet- ting exchange, Betfair. They were charged with “offences relating to allegations of fixing the outcome of horse races between December l, 2002, and September 2, 2004, and money laundering”.
Fallon’s license to ride was sus- pended by the British Jockey Club who imposed a ban on riding on Brit- ish tracks until his trial for “allega- tions of race fixing” is over. This trial is due to take place in September.
However, Fallon’s exile from racing was extended to a worldwide ban last
November when the French racing authority, France Galop, suspended him after testing positive for a pro- hibited substance.
Throughout this turbulent period, the Coolmore Stud operation – who retained Fallon’s services to ride for the Aidan O’Brien stable in Bally- doyle – have remained loyal, backing his fight against British injustice.
“We remain very supportive of K1- eren,’ said Coolmore’s Michael Ta- bor. ““We always have been, and we still are. Obviously people are talk- ing, everyone seems to have a point of view, but I can assure you we are unanimous. Nothing has changed.
“When things go wrong, that’s when you have to show strength, to
keep on the straight and narrow. He’s over 21, like all of us. We all have to take responsibility for our ac- tions. We are all still with him. We feel very sympathetic. If we didn’t, it would be over,’ he added.
Fallon himself says he has plenty of reason to look forward. “I have really good people around me and I can’t wait to get back,” he says.
The comeback happens this week — in Ireland, then Britain he hopes, then the world. The greatest jockey of his generation is raring to go.