Fallon Denied License to Ride in Hong Kong

Jockey Kieren Fallon, who has been charged in connection with alleged race-fixing in Great Britain, has been denied a license to ride during the international race meeting at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse Dec. 10.

In its decision Monday, Nov. 27, the licensing committee of the Hong Kong Jockey Club ruled: "The Licensing Committee was of the view that whilst it was not appropriate for them to comment on Kieren Fallon's pending criminal proceedings relating to horse racing integrity in the United Kingdom, the decision not to grant him a jockey's license was consistent with the Hong Kong Jockey Club's previous decisions not to permit jockeys who were the subject of law enforcement investigations to ride in Hong Kong pending the outcome of those investigations."

During last year's Hong Kong international meet, Fallon booted home champion mare Ouija Board to victory in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-I).

Fallon, who has denied the charges, is not permitted by the British Horse Racing Authority to ride in England, pending resolution of the charges against him. While Ireland and some other European countries have not honored the BHRA suspension, nor have they been requested by the regulatory agency to do so, Fallon was denied a license to race at Arlington International in August. The rider withdrew a license application to ride in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Churchill Downs earlier this month and instead rode during the spring carnival in Melbourne after receiving a license from the Victoria Jockey Club.