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Fallon update.....
Racing on trial as Fallon faces the fight of his life
John O'Brien Sunday September 23 2007 Nearly 12 months ago, Kieren Fallon sat in the weigh-room at the Curragh and recalled times past, an age of innocence. Back in the 1980s, he'd been apprenticed at Kevin Prendergast's yard a few hoofbeats away. Charlie Swan was a fellow cub. "That was a good time," Fallon said, "the best of my life. Charlie and me in our flat in Kildare. We never had a worry in the world. We never worried about the taxman, never worried about the mortgage, never worried about anything. We just enjoyed life." After Prendergast's, they went their separate ways: Swan to a joyful, success-laden career over jumps, Fallon to a turbulent, success-laden career on the flat. The years in England brought wealth and glory but saddled him, too, with cares and anxieties the young apprentice could never have foreseen. Altercations with fellow jockeys, allegations of pulling horses, a battle against alcohol addiction. It has been an extraordinary journey. And now it enters its most critical phase. Tomorrow the long-awaited trial into charges that Fallon, along with others, conspired to defraud customers of the betting exchange, Betfair, begins at the Central Criminal Court in London and if found guilty, the 42-year-old faces a possible prison sentence and, more certainly, the end of what has been a mercurial riding career. Fallon was arrested in July last year following Operation Krypton, a two-year police investigation into horse racing that resulted in 40,000 pages of evidence being passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. Specifically, the case against the former champion jockey centres on 18 races in which Fallon is alleged to have passed information onto a betting syndicate headed by Miles Rodgers which used it to lay horses to lose on Betfair. Fallon denies the charges. Along with Fallon,there are five other defendants: Rodgers, fellow jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, Lynch's brother Shaun and a Tamworth barman by the name of Philip Sherkle. But it is Fallon's name that will dominate the headlines and draw cameras and reporters in their droves to the court room. In a sense, though, it is the entire sport and its credibility that is on show. The belief -- even among those who enjoy a flutter -- that racing and corruption go hand-in-hand is one that has always been hard to shake off. For the last decade in particular, there has been a concerted effort among racing authorities, with the help of the police, to identify fraud, punish the perpetrators and enhance the integrity of the sport and its image. Following a haphazard start, they appear to be getting on top. Around the same time as Fallon was successfully suing the Sporting Life newspaper for libel in 1998, police were swooping on the homes of a number of jockeys including Jamie Osborne, Dean Gallagher and Leighton Aspell and questioning them in relation to doping and race-fixing allegations. Ultimately, no charges were brought against any of them. Gradually, though, the investigations have been trawling deeper and some big fish have been netted. Graham Bradley, a former jump jockey, was warned off for eight years in 2002 after admitting in court to passing on information for cash to Brian Wright, a convicted drug baron. On appeal, Bradley's sentence was reduced to five years. Last year two jockeys, Brian Reilly and Dean Williams, were banned for 18 months for passing information for cash to a bookmaker and this year has brought further casualties. Robert Winston, a highly-rated Dublin-born jockey, was banned for one year after being found guilty of a similar offence. Fellow jockeys Robbie Fitzpatrick and Luke Fletcher were handed three-year bans. Fran Ferris was disqualified for two years. The case against Fallon must be seen in the context of that 10-year battle against corruption. Put simply, there are those among racing's ruling elite who would welcome a successful prosecution as not only would it offer further evidence that they are winning the war but that nobody -- least of all a multiple champion jockey -- is beneath their radar. The time and money expended during the course of the decade would be more than justified. But there is deep unease too in racing circles at how the case has proceeded. Should the charges against Fallon be dismissed -- as he and his legal team believe -- then questions will surely be asked of the decision of the Horseracing Regularatry Authority to suspend the jockey after he was charged with conspiracy to defraud in July last year. There are those of the belief that the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, so central to British justice, was suspended in Fallon's case. The strength of the case against him is open to question too. It is supposedly based on 18 races in which Fallon is alleged to have passed information to Rodgers. The doubts centre on the fact that Fallon won six of those races and that the betting syndicate suffered a net loss. If the prosecution accepts, as has been claimed, that Fallon received no monetary reward for the information, then his precise motive has to be established. None of that clearly absolves Fallon if sufficient evidence is produced against him, but even if the former champion has sometimes been guilty of keeping bad company, that on its own is insufficient grounds to condemn him. Fallon denies any connection with Rodgers and to succeed, the CPS must prove they had a meaningful relationship and shared regular contact. We should not anticipate quick answers. Fallon's legal team expect the trial to last at least four months and that might be a hopeful forecast. There will be times Fallon will think back to those carefree days of the Eighties and wonder how it came to this but, for now, he must steel himself for the fight of his life. http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...e-1085797.html Free Kieren! |
As much as i want him to be freed, it will be very difficult for him and his legal team.
40,000 pages of evidence. The odds are stacked against him here, i'm afraid. If they get through this trial and he is found not guilty, the reputation of racing's governing body will be in tatters, they will lose thw respect of thousands of racing fans. There will be resignations, calls for resignations. I'm sorry to be negative about the whole case, but whatever the outcome..... racing will lose out. |
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The reputation of racing's governing body? No Chance with all due respect why should i give a flying f**k about them when they are intentionally trying to destroy him? You don't do this. You don't try to ruin someone. Excerpt..... The case against Fallon must be seen in the context of that 10-year battle against corruption. Put simply, there are those among racing's ruling elite who would welcome a successful prosecution as not only would it offer further evidence that they are winning the war but that nobody -- least of all a multiple champion jockey -- is beneath their radar. The time and money expended during the course of the decade would be more than justified. But there is deep unease too in racing circles at how the case has proceeded. Should the charges against Fallon be dismissed -- as he and his legal team believe -- then questions will surely be asked of the decision of the Horseracing Regularatry Authority to suspend the jockey after he was charged with conspiracy to defraud in July last year. There are those of the belief that the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, so central to British justice, was suspended in Fallon's case. So what... convict him to prove that they "are winning the war"? He should not be the fall guy, he doesn't deserve to be crucified. Questions will be asked if the charges are dismissed? Damned right they should be. They have no decency. Shame on them. **** them. |
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All the kids in HK said they miss you! :p |
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This case has been on and off for over a year now and nothing has been done. Racing has been in the limelight, the tabloids have had a great time in destroying racing. I'm sitting on the fence as far as Fallon is concerned, he is a great jockey, but he has done some very silly things and i have seen plenty of rides (including on one of my father's horses), which was interesting to say the least. I'm not for one minute saying that he is guilty, but it would not surprise me if he is. The BHB/BHA/HRA (whatever they call themselves these days) have amassed plenty of evidence about the Fallon case, much more evidence than for anyof the other jockeys involved, and if i'm not mistaken all of the others have been found guilty. For the British and Irish racing fans, it is a lose lose situation. If Fallon is found guilty, we have lost a great jockey from the sport. If he is found not guilty, many will lose faith in the governing body, many fans will forget about this "corrupt" sport as they will call it. Good guys will get blamed and resign and leave the sport. I care for this sport, and if i'm being honest, a not guilty verdict won't be the best result for the sport. I hope that makes sense. I do agree that the suspension wasn't the right way to go, and to this day i don't understand why this was done. However, they aren't trying to ruin him. If they have sufficient evidence to suggest he has been fixing races, he deserves nothing more than being banned and if he is found guilty i will no longer like the man. Anyone trying to ruin a sport which i love deserves no care in my opinion. All the other jockeys have been treated exactly the same way. The only reason Fallon's case has gone on longer is because he (and coolmore) have the money to fight the case, the other jockeys didn't. mmsc, if Fallon is found guilty it will not just be to show that "they are winning the war" it will be to show that someone who has been proven of race fixing is banned from the sport. Nothing else. I like Fallon, i think he is a great jockey, but if he is found guilty of race fixing beyond reasonable doubt, he will deserve everything he gets. If he is found guilty, it is fraud to a massive scale. If it was in any other context, it would be a jail sentance, there is no doubt about that. IF he is found guilty he should thank his lucky stars that he won't be going to jail. The BHA are just doing there job. Corruption has been with this sport for too long now, but now we have the means to prove it and bring people to justice. The way Fallon has been treated (i.e. the suspension) hasn't been the best, i will agree with that. |
As I said to one of my friends, Fallon is either the stupidest person in the world or the unluckiest person in the world to be caught up in this. Im hoping its the latter..
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Many people have already lost faith in the racing authorities over here, and have separated themselves from racing because of it. |
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Regardless of what happens to Keiren, if I ever am in a bit of a spot, I would love to have you on my side. Wow!! |
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Show mmsc a picture of Rakti and i reckon her legs would turn to jelly :D |
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Anyways, I have to say that I can see both sides of the argument. Needless to say, it would make me incredibly happy if they let him go, but if they end up punishing him, it would be understandable. I never saw any of the races that are in question, but I'll take NCTD's word on them. But still, I'm just hoping that he's innocent. |
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(Course i missed you, Snowdrops!). (Why would he, No Chance? He's not guilty....). |
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I'm not saying he is guilty at all, and i'm no lawyer, but 40,000 pages of evidence against him doesn't look good, does it. I will never forget the Ballinger Ridge ride. I wish i could find a replay. I'd like to say he isn't stupid enough to get involved in this, but at the moment i will be honest and say i'm really not sure. |
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There is a lot there, mmsc. Before the exchanges, and a changing in the law most of these things were almost impossible to get hold of until about five years ago. Now that all this information is possible to get hold of it is understandable that they want to fight corruption now that they have the means to do so. You can't blame them for doing that. |
Trial told of 'Fallon's role in plot to fix races'
by Shenai Raif and John-Paul Ford Rojas A STEP-BY-STEP trail of how Kieren Fallon was allegedly involved in a plot to lose a race at Goodwood was given to jurors at his Old Bailey trial on Monday. By coming third on the 2-1 favourite Goodwood Spirit during an evening race in August 2004, the jockey made nearly £30,000 for Miles Rodgers, the court heard. Using a telephone chart, details of a text message, a Racing Post race card and a chart of Betfair account details, Jonathan Caplan QC explained to the trial how the conspiracy was allegedly carried out. It is said to have been one of 27 horses ridden by Fallon and two other jockeys in a £2 million scheme to defraud punters over nearly two years. In the case of Goodwood Spirit, it is claimed that businessman Rodgers, alleged to be at the centre of the conspiracy, "laid the horse" - that is, bet on it to lose - using seven different accounts on the online betting exchange Betfair. He laid a total of £117,000 on Goodwood Spirit, winning about £30,000 when it lost, Mr Caplan said. "The prosecution alleges that Mr Rodgers's confidence to lay the horse for that amount of money came from what happened earlier that day, that is to say the mobile telephone contact he had with others in the conspiracy - in this case Mr Fallon through the intermediary Philip Sherkle." Jurors were shown a mobile phone chart which allegedly detailed a 17-second call at 11.43am on August 14, 2004 from Sherkle's mobile to Fallon. Another call from Sherkle to Fallon, lasting one minute and 28 seconds, followed at 12.04pm, the jury was told. There was then a text message from the jockey's mobile to Sherkle at 12.08, followed by a text from Sherkle to Rodgers a minute later. The latter message, recovered from Rodgers's mobile, read "6.55 no 4 n". Mr Caplan said that "6.55" referred to the race at Goodwood at that time while "no 4" referred to the number on the race card in the Racing Post that morning - not the number on the stall - and "n" meant "non-trier". It is alleged this was the same message which Fallon had sent to Sherkle a minute before, forwarded to Rodgers. "Mr Fallon was confiding in that text message that he would do what he could if necessary to stop that horse." At 6.36pm, Rodgers began to lay thousands of pounds on Goodwood Spirit to lose, using accounts controlled by him in seven different names, jurors were told, with the last one being laid at 6.51pm, four minutes before the race was due to start. A total amount of £116,738 was laid, with the accounts making a profit of £29,822 from the horse losing, the court heard. |
Fallon 'in plot to fix races'
by Shenai Raif and John-Paul Ford Rojas SIX-TIME champion jockey Kieren Fallon was involved in a plot in which he and two other jockeys agreed to cheat in 27 races to make horses lose, the Old Bailey was told on Monday. The prosecution alleged there was an agreement not to permit horses to "run on their merits" and that "riding practices would be used if necessary" to interfere with their running. The horses did not always lose as they were meant to - but when they did, it allowed a dishonest syndicate run by businessman Miles Rodgers to make money on the online betting exchange Betfair, the jury was told. The six defendants, including jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, deny being part of a race-fixing scam. Fallon, 42, formerly of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, but now of Tipperary, Ireland, Fergal Lynch, 29, of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and Darren Williams, 29, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, deny the charges. Lynch's brother Shaun Lynch, 37, of Belfast, former racing syndicate director Miles Rodgers, 38, of Silkstone, South Yorkshire, and Philip Sherkle, 42, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, have also pleaded not guilty. They are charged with conspiracy to defraud between December 2002 and September 2004 by interfering with the running of horses to ensure they lost races, defrauding Betfair punters and others putting money on the races. Rodgers is also accused of concealing the proceeds of crime. Jonathan Caplan QC, prosecuting, told the court: "This case concerns a serious allegation of fraud. "It is unusual because it is also concerned with sport and any allegation of fraud in that context obviously undermines the integrity of the sport in question." He said the 27 races were run on various dates and in different parts of Britain. Mr Caplan said: "The prosecution case is that there was an unlawful agreement or conspiracy between these defendants and other persons that those races should be fixed. "The defendants in this case did not fix races to ensure a particular horse won. "On the contrary, they fixed the races to ensure that the horses in question lost. "The object of the conspiracy was to wager large amounts of money on aparticular horse to lose in each of those races whilst knowing that the jockey was prepared, if necessary, to cheat by stopping the horse." Mr Caplan told the court that the betting was organised and conducted by Rodgers, who had numerous accounts in different names with Betfair. "He was the organiser of this conspiracy and was the one who was most involved," said Mr Caplan. "On race days, Rodgers had direct contact by mobile telephone with Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams. "Kieren Fallon was more cautious and Rodgers had indirect contact with Fallon using an intermediary, Shaun Lynch, to a lesser extent Fergal Lynch, and latterly, Philip Sherkle." Mr Caplan said the jury would be invited to look at all the circumstances of the case and "at the pattern which we say clearly emerges from them". He said that "there was a criminal conspiracy in operation to fix numerous horse races in this country to the detriment of the betting public, and that this conspiracy was only brought to a close by the arrests of these defendants". Mr Caplan outlined the evidence in what he said was an "important case". He alleged the men associated with each other, mostly at a time when Rodgers was declared a "disqualified" person by the Disciplinary Panel of the Jockey Club. Mr Caplan said that "extensive contact" by mobile phone and text message took place on race days. "The number of calls pre-race and their timing clearly suggests a pattern that was adhered to by eachof the jockeys," he said. "After Rodgers had been contacted by Fergal Lynch or Williams directly pre-race, or by Fallon indirectly via his intermediary, Rodgers would then begin to use the Betfair accounts to 'lay' the horse in question - that is to bet that the horse would lose. "The prosecution say that the jockeys were confirming in these pre-race calls that the horse would be stopped." Mr Caplan told the jury that police had found some text messages which were exchanged. There would also be a chart showing that texts were sent, but not what they said. Within a short space of time of the calls from the jockeys, Rodgers would bet sizeable sums of money "or lay bets to achieve a small return by comparison", he said. Bets were usually more than £100,000 to win about £20,000. Others would be some £60,000 to win about £4,000. "This indicated a knowledge about the outcome of the race that was not shared by the rest of the market. "That knowledge was that the jockey concerned was prepared to assist in making the lay bet successful," Mr Caplan said. The court was told that some of the trainers involved in the races would be giving evidence. The jury heard that bugged conversations that Rodgers had in August 2004 with Fergal Lynch, Philip Sherkle and others would be produced in evidence. They were taken from bugs in Rodgers's Mercedes car and in the car park of an Italian restaurant which he owns. "It was from that car park that Rodgers would frequently make calls on his mobile when he did not wish to be overheard," said Mr Caplan. An independent Australian racing steward called Ray Murrihy had been asked to watch recordings of races and give his opinion. "Out of the 27 races, he expressed concerns regarding 13," said Mr Caplan. "He also says race interference by a jockey is usually very subtle and difficult to detect." The court would also hear about covert surveillance evidence by police and about documents recovered after Rodgers' arrest. Mr Caplan assured the seven women and five men on the jury that everything would be explained to them. "It does not matter whether you know something about horse racing and betting or not," he said. They would be asked to watch the races and see the surveillance film and photographs. Although the defendants firmly denied there was a plot, some of the men agreed they had phoned each other for the innocent purpose of passing on tips or betting information. "Fallon's position appears to be that he would discuss the prospects of his own rides with Fergal and Shaun Lynch but was completely unaware if they passed this information on to Rodgers," said Mr Caplan. "Fallon says that he also gave some tips to Sherkle, whom he thought was having 'his own couple of quid' on them. He was completely unaware if Sherkle passed these tips of Rodgers." He added: "Whilst they may well have exchanged tips and information at various times, there was something far more sinister and unlawful going on." Mr Caplan said it was "inconceivable" that Fallon gave information to the Lynch brothers and to Sherkle and they all passed it on to Rodgers without him knowing. Mr Caplan said a total of £2.12 million was laid by Rodgers' Betfair accounts on the 27 races between December 2002 and the end of August 2004. Fallon rode 17 of the races. "He won for the conspirators 12 times by losing, but he lost for them five times by winning," Mr Caplan said. Fallon's wins between mid-May and mid-August 2004 cost the conspirators almost half a million pounds, it was alleged. "According to what Rodgers said to others in the probe, it led to a temporary fall-out between Fallon and Rodgers. "At the time of the arrests on 1st September 2004, Fallon had made a net loss for the conspiracy of about £338,000." Mr Caplan added: "But it is important to remember that Rodgers at the time was working with Fergal Lynch and Fallon to get the conspiracy back into profit by concentrating on their rides in 'Handicap' races." Mr Caplan said of Fallon: "He has been champion jockey in this country on six occasions. Fergal Lynch had ridden in six of the races and only lost the conspirators money once by winning on Familiar Affair. "He won on that occasion because he was 'playing' three races for the conspirators in one day and, as it turned out, it would have been too dangerous to stop all three horses. "He earned a net profit for the conspiracy of just over £5,000 by the time of his arrest," said Mr Caplan. Darren Williams rode four of the races and won for the plotters each time by losing, earning them £55,000, thecourt heard. Mr Caplan said there were others involved in the plot who were not before the court. Mr Caplan told the jury that the aim of the conspiracy was for Rodgers to wager "very large amounts of money" on a horse to lose, knowing that the jockey "was prepared to cheat by using tactics on course to stop the horse if it was likely to win". But he added: "The plan was not foolproof because you could not always stop the horse if, in the particular circumstances, it would look too obvious. "A horse race is a dynamic event and anything can happen. But the plan worked most of the time." On Favour, ridden by Fallon, Rodgers wagered £100,000 to win just over £12,000; on Romil Star, ridden by Williams, he bet £92,000 to win £16,000; and on CD Europe, ridden by Fergal Lynch, nearly £36,000 for £2,000, Mr Caplan said. These bets by Rodgers usually amounted to just over 50% of the Betfair market in that particular race, he told the jury. "The pattern of contact by mobile phone on race days was nearly always the same, whichever jockey was riding. "The jockey would call or text Rodgers, or Fallon would call or text the intermediary, who would then almost instantaneously contact Rodgers, and Rodgers would then begin to lay the horseon Betfair. "This system of contact confirmed that the jockey was ready and able to try and stop the horse. This gave Rodgers the confidence to lay sizeable amounts of money. |
Racing Post.....
Fallon texted 'they are watching me', court told by John-Paul Ford Rojas KIEREN FALLON sent a "revealing" series of text messages the day after winning a race that he was supposed to have lost as part of a race-fixing plot, a court heard on Monday. The conspirators behind the plot calculated that his victory on Daring Aim at Newmarket had cost them £138,000, an Old Bailey jury was told. But Fallon told Philip Sherkle, the alleged middleman in the scheme, how he feared: "They are watching me." Fallon rode Daring Aim, which was owned by the Queen, to victory in the 6.15pm at Newmarket on July 23 2004. JonathanCaplan QC, prosecuting, told jurors at Fallon's trial on race-fixing charges that the next day there followed a "revealing set of text messages" between the jockey and Sherkle. Sherkle was allegedly the intermediary between Fallon and businessman Miles Rodgers, said to be at the centre of the conspiracy. At 11.08am, Fallon texted to Sherkle: "Only this phone to use." One minute later, Fallon wrote: "I will call you when I can." At 12.17pm, Sherkle texted Fallon: "If u don't speak to me now I won't be able to help you." Then at 12.22pm, Fallon replied: "They will take my licences off me if they drift like that last night. They are watching me." Ten minutes later he wrote: "I will call you in 10 minutes." There were two other texts to and from Sherkle found in Fallon's mobile, Mr Caplan told the jury. One was sent at 7.17pm on July 27, from Sherkle. "I am away weds morning just text as normal make sure u do please I don't want any grief from them when I get back thanks. hope u have a good week" An undated message from Fallon to Sherkle read: "no I can't chance it". |
The more and more i read, the more i think he is guilty. I didn't think Fallon was this stupid and/or greedy....... maybe i was wrong.
What do you think, mmsc? I know you really like him, but you must admit that this evidence is shocking. |
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I think that I'm a hypocrite because I'm always all for any celebrity getting a fair and just punishment... I don't give a crap who they are if they've done something wrong. I think that i keep seeing his face before Horatio's last race, when he wanted him scratched. I think that i keep seeing him walking, slumped over and devastated after Gypsy King broke down and wondering if he'd commit suicide and praying that he'd be strong and not continue or revert to the downward spiral. I think that he's amazing and talented and that he's the tragic figure of the racing world... I think that it just broke my heart to read the piece and I couldn't help but to wonder if these are lies even though i realized a second later I'm just trying to rationalize things because i don't want to believe them. I think that I just don't even want to talk about this today and i think that we all make mistakes and should be forgiving and respect someone who pulled themselves up and has worked hard and has battled depression and had so many problems..... I think I can't be fair here. I don't want to believe this and if I'm forced to I want to find reasoning behind his actions because sometimes when a person is under a great deal of stress they make foolish choices. I think there's a chance we're reading these texts out of context and while they appear to be incriminating, are they really? I think I'm going around in circles. I don't know what i think. :( |
just remember that it is the prosecutions job to make him as guilty looking as possible.. That still doesnt mean that all of the above is fact...
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I know they are trying to make him look guilty, but to be honest all they have done is read text messages sent from his phone and get phone records with him and the people between him and Miles.
All of this with the betting information to back this up. It doesn't look good. The defece lawyers will find this hard and i think they know that themselves. mmsc. I know Fallon has been through many problems, and overall he is a nice man. Even though he pulled a family friend of mine of his horse after a race once. However, if he is found guilty of doing this, he has done it and hurt the sport we love. He has basically stole hundreds of thousands of pounds from the general public. Great jocky, and a very wealthy man. Why did he need to get involved in this? Kieren, i hope they have the wrong man..... but you have got yourself into this hole. |
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I really hope he is innocent, but at the moment he looks as if he is in a very deep hole. Everyone who has been accused of these race fixing allegations has been charged so far because the evidence has been substantial. They have so many links what with betting patterns, telephone records and race videos. It will be hard for even the best defense lawyers to get around all of that. |
all i can say at the moment, is that when you hear the prosecutors arguments, you nearly always go away with the view that he is guilty.. thats their job.. Its the defences job now to balance that with solid evidence that shows that he wasnt part of this organisation.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7020010.stm shows the 27 races in question.. I am really really surprised that Russian Rhythm's Lockinge win is there.. Did this organisation really try to influence G1 races??
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Just a thought |
Fallon 'lost race he should
have won at a canter' by Shenai Raif . KIEREN FALLON came second in a race which he should have won "at a canter", the £2 million race-fixing trial at the Old Bailey was told on Tuesday. The six-times champion jockey appeared to stop riding Ballinger Ridge as he came into the home stretch with a huge lead, said Jonathan Caplan QC, prosecuting. Fallon later told a stewards' inquiry that he had given the horse "a breather" and was afraid he would become "legless" if he kept up the pace, the court was told. The Jockey Club had tipped off officials at Lingfield racecourse before the race in March 2004 that a large amount of money had been placed on the horse to lose. The sport's ruling body later found that Fallon had made an error of judgment in the race. Mr Caplan said the Jockey Club was not aware of the full picture at the time. A prosecution expert had since found the ride to be "not a marginal case of a jockey dropping his hands". Mr Caplan said: "He notes that passing the two-furlong marker Ballinger Ridge was five or six lengths in front. "But Fallon then dramatically slows his momentum to the point where he is doing virtually nothing. "Prior to the one-furlong marker Fallon turns and looks back. The other runners are four to five lengths behind. Fallon eases the horse down, which would send the message to the horse that the race was over." The Australian expert had then found Fallon looking round again at the half-furlong but "only tries to get going again" when another horse, Rye, is going past. "By that time Ballinger Ridge has lost momentum. There is no legitimate reason that a jockey would need to be looking back and steadying his horse down with a furlong still to go. "When you look at all the evidence in this case, you can be sure Mr Fallon wanted Rye to be the winner." Mr Caplan said betting syndicate boss Miles Rodgers had placed £74,000 on Ballinger Ridge to lose the race. He alleged that fellow jockey Fergal Lynch acted as an intermediary between Rodgersand Fallon in a conspiracy to make horses lose and win money for crooked backers. On the day of the race, he said Rodgers phoned Lynch nine times before the race. Lynch sent a text message to Fallon a little under two hours before the race. Fallon, Rodgers and four other men deny conspiring to make 27 horses lose, defrauding the online betting exchange Betfair and other punters between December 2002 and September 2004. The accused are: jockeys Fallon, 42, formerly of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, but now of Tipperary, Ireland; Fergal Lynch, 29, of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire; and Darren Williams, 29, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire; Lynch's brother, Shaun Lynch, 37, of Belfast; former racing syndicate director Miles Rodgers, 38, of Silkstone, South Yorkshire; and Philip Sherkle, 42, of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Rodgers also denies concealing the proceeds of crime. All the defendants are on bail. Mr Caplan said the Jockey Club called police in and an undercover investigation was startedin mid-May 2004, leading to arrests in September that year. On May 15, 2004, Fallon won the Juddmonte Lockinge at Newbury aboard Sir Michael Stoute's Russian Rhythm, in a race of "some significance and value". The race was the only Group One race involved in the conspiracy and Rodgers, who was thought to be working with others in Spain, had backed the horse to lose. He lost £160,256 when the horse won by half a length, it was alleged. Mr Caplan said Fallon telephoned Lynch four hours before the race and later sent a text to Shaun Lynch. Shaun had made calls during the day to Rodgers, and Rodgers rang him five times after the race. Mr Caplan told the jury: "Rodgers and the other conspirators were clearly expecting the horse to lose under Fallon but something went wrong. "The prosecution cannot say what precisely went wrong but we can say that Shaun Lynch was seen as being an unreliable intermediary between Rodgers and Fallon after this, and eventually was replaced by Sherkle. "The prosecution will invite you to draw the inference that something happened in the communication between Fallon and Shaun Lynch in the pre-race period." Mr Caplan said that, in the next 10 days, Shaun and Rodgers went to Leicester racecourse to try to meet Fallon face to face. They also made a trip to Newmarket with Sherkle and another man "in mysterious circumstances" in an attempt to see or confront Fallon, said Mr Caplan. And two pay-as-you-go mobiles with unregistered details were activated to be used by Fallon and Sherkle, it was alleged. Mr Caplan said Rodgers was only able to see Fallon for a few minutes before giving the jockey and Darryll Holland a lift to Leicester Airport. The jockeys, along with Seb Sanders, then took a private plane to Newmarket. A week later, Shaun Lynch made concerted efforts to set up a meeting but it never took place. At one stage, he sent Fallon 17 text messages, the court heard. In the early hours of the following day, May 27, 2004, Rodgers' Mercedes car containing Shaun Lynch, Sherkle and an Irish businessman was seen driving through unlit country roads near Fallon's home. Mr Caplan said the car with its lights on full beam parked behind an unmarked police car which had been following him. The policeman drove off towards Newmarket but found the Mercedes attempting to block his path. "The Mercedes followed him. He saw a marked police vehicle and accelerated over a mini roundabout," said Mr Caplan. The police car stopped the vehicle and the Mercedes drove past again but then took off. Mr Caplan said: "They would not have known that he was a police officer but they were obviously concerned that they might be being watched. "The proper inference to draw is that the persons who came especially to Newmarket were unhappy with the loss on Russian Rhythm and were anxious to confirm with Fallon a more reliable working arrangement." More anger followed in July after Fallon lost the syndicate £105,000 by winning on the Queen's horse Daring Aim. On August 3, Fergal Lynch was on the same plane to Malaga in Spain with Rodgers, said Mr Caplan. He said an undercover policeman was also on board and after they left the plane, Rodgers was heard to say to Fergal Lynch: "When you meet the big man play up to him. He's coming down internally..." Mr Caplan added: "The prosecution say the journey was to meet one of the unknown men in the conspiracy." They returned to Britain on August 5. A ticket hadbeen bought for Fallon from August 1-4. Mr Caplan said: "Although Fallon did not join them on the trip to Spain, a ticket for him had, in fact, been purchased by Fergal Lynch. "The ticket confirmation had been seized after Fallon's arrest from the glove compartment of his car. Fallon was a 'no show' on the flight. "That trip was made, at least in part, to enable Rodgers and Fergal Lynch to meet with the persons residing in Spain who were parties to this conspiracy. "Mr Fallon did not use that ticket and he did not go." The trial was adjourned to Wednesday. |
one unusual thing i noticed over the last 2 days was that on Monday, Fallon was on the front cover of most Irish newspapers celebrating his famous win on Dylan Thomas in the Arc. Then today, he was AGAIN on the front page of most newspapers in relation to the trial with numerous accompagning headlines like "Champion Cheat". Its very very rare that you see the same person on the front page of the paper two days in a row and for 2 different reasons.
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There is SO much evidence against him, it's not hard to see why people are beginning to turn against him. Even i wasn't aware there was this much evidence counted against him. As you have said, it is made to look bad at the moment, but the fact that it is still there shocks me. I will never forget the Ballinger Ridge ride and watching ATR that morning with them constantly flagging him up as a HUGE drifter. |
It isn't exactly the number of phone calls and text messages that looks bad, but it is the timing of them, which makes it look almost certain that they were all in on this together.
The timing of them before and after the races in question. Fallon has at least been bright enough not to contact Rodgers directly, but will that be enough to get him off the hook. Judging by the evidence against him, i doubt it. |
The Ballinger Ridge race gets so much attention and deservedly so. It looks terrible.. As a racing fan though, I thought he was quite unlucky. With those shocking bad horses, winning by massive distances literally destroys their handicap mark (my point here is that BR won next time out, went up 7pounds for it and never won again!!). You see so many jocks easing up and winning by as little as possible. Fallon made a huge mistake, easing too early on a horse that was tired so it took him much longer than normal to get going again. And after a terrible riding mistake, he only lost on a head bobber - hardly a deliberate loser there..
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It was the constant looking over his shoulder in the straight. First time about 7 lengths clear...... which was fine, he then looked and they had closed to about four lengths. Even if you are trying to save a horses handicap mark you at least try and maintain a couple length lead, but no, Fallon eased the horse even more. Another look round and Rye was about a length behind, and it wasn't until Rye had put his head in front that Fallon started to move in the saddle. I understand what you are saying about handicap marks, but this wasn't a case of that at all. Didn't Willie Muir say he was disgusted by the ride afterwards and also say he should have won eight lengths? suggesting he didn't care how far the horse won. Fallon had every chance to win that race by just a couple of lengths, but he didn't take that chance. Match that up with the huge amount of money that Rodgers placed on the horse to get beaten, and you have a very dodgey case on your hands. Did you read the article from the Racing Post? This race wasn't just a case of preserving the horses handicap mark. Fallon could have won a very easy two lengths and the handicapper would have treated it like a six length victory anyway. There is a HUGE myth in racing that the winning distance is a big thing for the handicapper. When a horse wins easily (as BR would have done) the winning distance would have made no difference from a handicappers point of view. |
Just a passing thought but are texts routinely allowed as evidence?
I mean, would it be far-fetched to rule that they're inadmissible? Just wondering..... |
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I was afraid of that. I just thought maybe texts... maybe it could be argued....
* * * RP... The suggestion Fallon was deliberately trying to lose races 'simply ridiculous' by Shenai Raif THE suggestion that Kieren Fallon was deliberately trying to lose raceswas "simply ridiculous", a betting scam trial was told on Wednesday. Fallon was six times champion jockey and a man "driven to win", said his barrister, John Kelsey-Fry QC. Fallon listened a few feet away as Mr Kelsey-Fry told a jury at the Old Bailey: "He is a man driven by the desire to win." Fallon and five others are accused of plotting to make 27 horses lose in order to win money on bets. But the prosecution say he ended up owing the crooked betting syndicate money because he won five of his 17 races. Mr Kelsey-Fry said: "The very fact that a man described as the greatest jockey of his generation ends up unable to help winning when he is trying to lose is simply ridiculous." Fallon had, in fact, won more races - an average 29.4% - during the time of the alleged conspiracy, than the 19% he normally averaged. Mr Kelsey-Fry said this meant Fallon's winning rides were 150 times higher "when he was trying to lose than when he was trying to win". It alleged that the six defendants were involved in a conspiracy with others between December 2002 and September 2004 to defraud Betfair customers and other punters. Fallon, 42, formerly of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, but now of Tipperary, Ireland, Fergal Lynch, 29, of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and Darren Williams, 29, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, deny the charges. Shaun Lynch, 37, of Belfast, former racing syndicate director Miles Rodgers, 38, of Silkstone, South Yorkshire, and Philip Sherkle, 42, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, also plead not guilty. Rodgers also denies concealing the proceeds of crime. All the defendants are on bail. The defendants in the case have been allowed to sit next to their lawyers in the well of the court during the rest of the trial. Mr Kelsey-Fry was addressing the jury after the judge invited defence counsel to make a speech following the prosecution opening of the case. Fallon and the two other jockeys, Fergal Lynch and Williams, are alleged to have passed on information to syndicate boss Rodgers that their rides would lose. Fallon is alleged to have used intermediaries to pass on information but Mr Kelsey-Fry said he was only talking to friends about races. He said: "Nothing wrong with that. If you're champion jockey six times, you will find, you readily accept, the whole world wanting to know your opinions about every horserace there is. "You will hear evidence demonstrating that Mr Fallon was content to do so to any number of such people." Mr Kelsey-Fry said Fallon had even been asked for his opinion in a BBC interview before he rode in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France at the weekend. He won on Dylan Thomas but had fancied another horse, Soldier Of Fortune, because of the soft ground. Mr Kelsey-Fry said the prosecution case showed "signs of desperation". Earlier, Peter Kelson QC, for Rodgers, told the jurors that there were factors in the prosecution which would cause them anxiety. The officer in charge of the inquiry, and who is soon to retire, had been offered a job with the Jockey Club which had originally called in police to make an independent investigation. Mr Kelson said: "We submit that this matter goes to the root of impartiality in this matter." He said Rodgers was a professional and prolific gambler who had not done anything illegal. He had openly "boasted" of his contacts and made no secret of the fact that he relied on tips. |
I'm sorry, but if the defence lawyers are going down the road of "the champion jockey" and "a driven man" this will be over very quickly.
The defence lawyers have to remember the fact that Fallon has overcome a drink addiction and has been recently banned for using cocaine. The champion jockey and being a driven man for success will get them no where. |
this may seem very basic, but it seems to me that Fallon was just a nuisance to these guys.. yeah, he might have said things to people etc etc, but all he did was give these guys the run around and lose them money..
nochance, i suppose the defence has to say those things re: champion jockey etc.. for the jury to show just how high up he was in horse racing.. But yeah, its defo not the best pillar to rest a case upon.. |
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