Fallon to Ride For Team Valor at Churchill

British jockey Kieren Fallon will fly into Louisville, Ky. Thursday and plans to ride two horses for Team Valor in stakes at Churchill Downs this weekend.

With 15 regular riders at Churchill ejected from the track as part of a dispute over jockey insurance, Team Valor president Barry Irwin was searching for jockey options when Churchill racing secretary Doug Bredar informed him of Fallon's interest in riding in the U. S.

Irwin said Fallon will obtain his Kentucky license Friday and will then ride Team Valor's River Belle in the Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) Saturday and Shadowland in Sunday's Commonwealth Turf.

On Oct. 30, Fallon rode Ouija Board to victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Lone Star Park.

"He is, for my money, the best grass rider in the world," Irwin said. "He has ridden and won for us in England. We try to get him any time we can. The thought of having him ride two live mounts for us in one weekend right here in Kentucky is surreal."