Kieren Fallon and John Egan to Face Disciplinary Panel Following News of the World Articles

Published: 7 April 2004

Having studied all the material provided by the News of the World, the Jockey Club today informed the solicitor representing Kieren Fallon and John Egan that both jockeys are required to attend a Disciplinary Panel enquiry.

The enquiry will seek to establish whether or not Kieren Fallon and John Egan have committed breaches of Rule 220 (iii) by acting in a manner which was prejudicial to the integrity and good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain in respect of their dealings with, conversations with and various statements made to undercover reporters, as published in the 7th March and 14th March 2004 editions of the News of the World.

The Disciplinary Panel enquiry will also seek to establish whether or not Kieren Fallon has committed a breach of Rule 243 by communicating on various occasions information about horses which was not publicly available for material reward, gift, favour or benefit in kind.

No date has been set for an enquiry, although in the correspondence to Kieren Fallon and John Egan the Jockey Club has expressed its wish to deal with the matter as soon as possible.

The Security Department’s investigation into the irregular betting patterns of the race at Lingfield in which Kieren Fallon finished second on Ballinger Ridge is on-going and is entirely separate to the Disciplinary Panel hearing into the News of the World articles.

April 7th 2004

Notes for Editors

1. Kieren Fallon was suspended for 21 days, from 16th March to 8th April, for failing to ride out on Ballinger Ridge at Lingfield on 2nd March 2004. The suspension expires on Thursday which means Kieren Fallon can ride again on Saturday 10th April as there are no race meetings on Good Friday.