Fallon Cuts Short Gulfstream Stay

After enjoying initial success, European champion jockey Kieren Fallon has apparently soured on his racing experience at Gulfstream Park and returned to Great Britain Monday.

Fallon had been expected to remain in the United States until mid-March, but made the decision to cut his stay short after taking a three-day break in Britain late last month, according to his American agent, Terry Miller. Fallon came to the U.S. after the conclusion of the European season saying he wanted to improve his skills against American riders.

Fallon told Miller that he disliked competing on the main track and wanted to only ride on the turf.

"He doesn't like the fast ground. Kieren thinks the turf course is too hard," Miller told Racing Post on Sunday. "It is a fact that tracks records are broken virtually every day. I don't really know what happened, but he told me four or five days ago that he'd be going back. It's a shame. He's such a nice guy and is a great rider. I wish he would have stayed longer."

The six-time English champion arrived in the U.S. on Dec. 26 and won with three of his first 11 mounts. He has six wins in 62 starts in the U.S. this year, and won Gulfstream's Marshua's River Stakes aboard Angela's Love.