Fallon: I've been stupid Mar 10 2004

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By Evening Gazette

Champion jockey Kieren Fallon last night spoke for the first time about the Ballinger Ridge affair and insisted he is completely innocent of allegations of race-fixing.

In a four-page article described as the "sports scandal of the decade", the News Of The World alleged on Sunday that Fallon told undercover journalists before a race at Lingfield last Tuesday that eventual winner Rye would beat his mount.

But Fallon told ITV News yesterday that claims of race-fixing were "completely ridiculous".

And he said he repeatedly refused to accept any money or gifts for tips, as that would have landed him in hot water with the racing authorities.

"I've been very stupid. We've been warned against this many times. I was totally innocent of what was going on but have ended up being very stupid," he said.

"I've let so many people down, so many racing people and people who have supported me over the years. It's just turned out terrible."

Fallon said he was under the impression he was meeting people to advise them on how to become involved in the racing industry.

Asked if he had deliberately fixed or lost a race, he said: "No. These are completely ridiculous allegations.

"For one, it's impossible to fix a race because of the amount of horses that run and the amount of people involved. That doesn't make any sense at all. Most jockeys are hungry, it's a tough sport and the only way you are going to get anywhere is by winning, not by losing.

"When the first couple of horses started winning for them (the News Of The World undercover team), they did offer me money and I said 'what do you mean? Jockeys can't accept any money'.

"It wasn't until I got to Spain that it got to the stage where they said if you are not going to accept any money, why don't we give you cars? Why don't you have a Mercedes?

"I said it's against the Rules of Racing. I do very well out of racing, I make a good living - the cheque at the end of the month is very good. I don't need it and that's exactly what I told them.

"I think this all blew up because they could see I wasn't going to accept anything. They went the other way then and the whole thing went against me."

Irregular betting patterns on a betting exchange prompted the controversial defeat of Ballinger Ridge to be referred for investigation by the Jockey Club. The horse was beaten a short head after Fallon eased down when well clear approaching the final furlong.

Reflecting on the race, Fallon said: "Front-running is very hard to do, one of the hardest ways to win a race is from the front.

"I rode actually one of my best races. I knew I was a long way clear into the straight but just to confirm I looked around twice and gave my horse half a chance to get a breather.

"I could just feel him easing off a fraction and that's when I started riding again. It wasn't because I realised there was anything coming, because I was so far clear anyway. I genuinely, honestly thought I'd won."

Fallon said he "couldn't believe" the newspaper headlines alleging race-fixing at the weekend.

"I knew where they were coming from when they spoke to me before it came out in the papers, but I didn't know they were going to put a headline on it like that," he said.

"It looked really bad for everyone involved."

He added: "They did ring me about the race in question and without even thinking I told them that the Jamie Osborne horse (Rye) had been doing really well and that I thought he'll win. It was general talk, giving my honest opinion."

In a statement, the News Of The World said it stood by its story. A spokesman said: "The News Of The World stands by its story and will be handing its dossier, which includes taped evidence, to the Jockey Club later this week."

Source: IC Newcastle