http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004102328,00.html
By TREVOR CLEMENTS
CHAMPION jockey Kieren Fallon was caught up in a £1.5million betting sting storm last night after two punters made a fortune by backing his horse to LOSE.
Fallon was ten lengths clear on his mount Ballinger Ridge as he headed towards the finish of a minor race.
But after taking a peek over his shoulder, he eased up — and got pipped at the post.
It later emerged that two big-time gamblers had cleaned up on a new internet betting service that offers punters odds on a horse losing.
The astonishing race was the talk of every punter in bookies across Britain yesterday.
And it has triggered the biggest betting stink to rock horse racing for years.
Punters who had backed 15-8 shot Ballinger Ridge to WIN reacted with disbelief and fury.
They condemned Fallon’s howler as “disgusting” and called for him to be hit with a lengthy ban.
At a Ladbrokes’ branch in Birmingham city centre, production worker John Burke said: “It was a terrible piece of riding. It was dodgy. He kept looking round as if he was wanting the other horse to come past him.”
Mr Burke, 53, added: “Fallon is usually so good that things like this make you wonder whether horse racing really is corrupt.”
The £1.5million staked on Tuesday’s 3.30 race at Lingfield, Surrey, was THREE TIMES the amount wagered on an average event.
And course officials were warned of suspicious betting patterns by racing chiefs from the Jockey Club ten minutes before it started.
Pipped at post ... amazing finish and The Sun form guide
Fallon, 39, was booed and jeered by disgruntled racegoers as he dismounted from Ballinger Ridge. The race, the betdirect.co.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes, was for horses that had never won before.
It was worth just £1,500 to the winner and was the lowest grade of flat race possible.
Many punters were surprised to see the champion jockey taking part in such an obscure event.
But as Fallon surged clear on Ballinger Ridge, it seemed he would win it comfortably.
After easing up, Fallon peered over his shoulder a second time and saw the eventual winner, the 8-11 favourite Rye, closing fast.
Irishman Fallon renewed his effort but Ballinger Ridge had lost momentum and was beaten by Rye by a short head.
A stewards inquiry was launched and the controversy was referred to the Jockey Club’s disciplinary panel. The vast majority of the stake money was placed with Betfair, one of the internet sites known as betting exchanges.
Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: “I can confirm bets worth £1.5million were matched on the race.
“We have an agreement with the Jockey Club whereby we can offer details of betting accounts in cases where betting patterns have been suspicious. This is true of Tuesday’s 3.30 race at Lingfield.” The Jockey Club has been told the names of the gamblers who made a mint.
They may be asked for their telephone records to see if they were handed inside information.
Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse said: “It’s too early to say how long it will be before the disciplinary panel meet. Our security department will examine all the relevant information from the betting exchanges before deciding if the riding offence can be dealt with separately from the betting patterns.”
Under investigation ... Kieren Fallon
Punters who watched the drama unfold on TV in betting shops told how there was “total outrage” when Ballinger Ridge was caught on the line.
Brummie plasterer Aaron Khan, 31, said: “Everyone went mad, even those who hadn’t backed Ballinger Ridge.
“It’s hard enough to pick winners but when you see races like this you realise it’s almost impossible.”
Retired car worker Thomas McKaenna, of Birmingham, said: “Considering Fallon has been the best jockey in Britain for years, this was unbelievable.”
At a Corals branch in Leeds, call centre worker James McCall, 28, said: “When Ballinger Ridge went that far clear I was over the moon. I just couldn’t believe it when he got run down. Fallon looked like he didn’t want to know towards the end.”
Labourer Steve Harding, 36, said: “It sounds like a dodgy one to me. They should kick him out if he is found guilty.”
In East London, 75-year-old Ronald Dorking, of Hackney, told how he staked £40 on the champ’s mount.
He was already counting his winnings as he watched the telly.
But he said: “What happened inside that final furlong was disgusting.”
Fellow punter John Tricks, 69, said: “I back Fallon regularly but I won’t again after what happened.”
The Sun’s racing expert Claude Duval last night said the Sport of Kings was facing its biggest-ever crisis thanks to the betting exchange revolution that rewards punters for choosing losers.
But he added: “With the willingness of Betfair and other firms to expose dubious betting patterns, plus the advances in video technology, the Jockey Club has never been in a more powerful position to wipe out the cheats.
“They have brushed skulduggery under the carpet so many times in the past. And racing has almost made saints out of its known rogues.
“That must stop NOW. Punters deserve a proper run for their hard-earned money.”
By TREVOR CLEMENTS
CHAMPION jockey Kieren Fallon was caught up in a £1.5million betting sting storm last night after two punters made a fortune by backing his horse to LOSE.
Fallon was ten lengths clear on his mount Ballinger Ridge as he headed towards the finish of a minor race.
But after taking a peek over his shoulder, he eased up — and got pipped at the post.
It later emerged that two big-time gamblers had cleaned up on a new internet betting service that offers punters odds on a horse losing.
The astonishing race was the talk of every punter in bookies across Britain yesterday.
And it has triggered the biggest betting stink to rock horse racing for years.
Punters who had backed 15-8 shot Ballinger Ridge to WIN reacted with disbelief and fury.
They condemned Fallon’s howler as “disgusting” and called for him to be hit with a lengthy ban.
At a Ladbrokes’ branch in Birmingham city centre, production worker John Burke said: “It was a terrible piece of riding. It was dodgy. He kept looking round as if he was wanting the other horse to come past him.”
Mr Burke, 53, added: “Fallon is usually so good that things like this make you wonder whether horse racing really is corrupt.”
The £1.5million staked on Tuesday’s 3.30 race at Lingfield, Surrey, was THREE TIMES the amount wagered on an average event.
And course officials were warned of suspicious betting patterns by racing chiefs from the Jockey Club ten minutes before it started.
Pipped at post ... amazing finish and The Sun form guide
Fallon, 39, was booed and jeered by disgruntled racegoers as he dismounted from Ballinger Ridge. The race, the betdirect.co.uk Median Auction Maiden Stakes, was for horses that had never won before.
It was worth just £1,500 to the winner and was the lowest grade of flat race possible.
Many punters were surprised to see the champion jockey taking part in such an obscure event.
But as Fallon surged clear on Ballinger Ridge, it seemed he would win it comfortably.
After easing up, Fallon peered over his shoulder a second time and saw the eventual winner, the 8-11 favourite Rye, closing fast.
Irishman Fallon renewed his effort but Ballinger Ridge had lost momentum and was beaten by Rye by a short head.
A stewards inquiry was launched and the controversy was referred to the Jockey Club’s disciplinary panel. The vast majority of the stake money was placed with Betfair, one of the internet sites known as betting exchanges.
Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: “I can confirm bets worth £1.5million were matched on the race.
“We have an agreement with the Jockey Club whereby we can offer details of betting accounts in cases where betting patterns have been suspicious. This is true of Tuesday’s 3.30 race at Lingfield.” The Jockey Club has been told the names of the gamblers who made a mint.
They may be asked for their telephone records to see if they were handed inside information.
Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse said: “It’s too early to say how long it will be before the disciplinary panel meet. Our security department will examine all the relevant information from the betting exchanges before deciding if the riding offence can be dealt with separately from the betting patterns.”
Under investigation ... Kieren Fallon
Punters who watched the drama unfold on TV in betting shops told how there was “total outrage” when Ballinger Ridge was caught on the line.
Brummie plasterer Aaron Khan, 31, said: “Everyone went mad, even those who hadn’t backed Ballinger Ridge.
“It’s hard enough to pick winners but when you see races like this you realise it’s almost impossible.”
Retired car worker Thomas McKaenna, of Birmingham, said: “Considering Fallon has been the best jockey in Britain for years, this was unbelievable.”
At a Corals branch in Leeds, call centre worker James McCall, 28, said: “When Ballinger Ridge went that far clear I was over the moon. I just couldn’t believe it when he got run down. Fallon looked like he didn’t want to know towards the end.”
Labourer Steve Harding, 36, said: “It sounds like a dodgy one to me. They should kick him out if he is found guilty.”
In East London, 75-year-old Ronald Dorking, of Hackney, told how he staked £40 on the champ’s mount.
He was already counting his winnings as he watched the telly.
But he said: “What happened inside that final furlong was disgusting.”
Fellow punter John Tricks, 69, said: “I back Fallon regularly but I won’t again after what happened.”
The Sun’s racing expert Claude Duval last night said the Sport of Kings was facing its biggest-ever crisis thanks to the betting exchange revolution that rewards punters for choosing losers.
But he added: “With the willingness of Betfair and other firms to expose dubious betting patterns, plus the advances in video technology, the Jockey Club has never been in a more powerful position to wipe out the cheats.
“They have brushed skulduggery under the carpet so many times in the past. And racing has almost made saints out of its known rogues.
“That must stop NOW. Punters deserve a proper run for their hard-earned money.”
