Jockey Winston to be charged in new probe

Racing DigestIrish jockey Robert Winston has been notified by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA) in Britain of charges to be brought in connection with an investigation into alleged corruption in racing.

It is also understood that three other riders - Luke Fletcher, Robbie Fitzpatrick and Fran Ferris - together with five unlicensed individuals, one a former bookmaker, have also been informed of charges.

But it is believed the investigation does not relate to the City Of London police probe which has seen charges brought against 11 people, including six-time champion Kieren Fallon and weighing room colleagues Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams.

Winston (25), rode his 100th winner of the year at Pontefract on Wednesday, and is third in the jockeys' title race behind Ryan Moore and Jamie Spencer.

His chances of gaining a first crown this year were dealt a serious blow in June when he was suspended for 28 days after the Carlisle stewards found him guilty of dropping his hands aboard the Alan Swinbank-trained Confide, who finished second in the Border Construction Handicap.

Winston gave up his rides at Haydock yesterday after hurting his leg in a three-horse pile-up at the Pontefract meeting.

But Winston was scheduled to return to action at Newmarket this evening for three rides, including one for Michael Stoute, before taking part in the Shergar Cup at Ascot tomorrow.Kieren Fallon has been refused permission to ride in the Arlington Million in Chicago tomorrow, according to reports from America.

Illinois extends ban on Fallon for Arlington

The Arlington Park stewards have upheld the Illinois Racing Board's ruling that suspensions from other jurisdictions be honoured at the state's tracks, according to the thoroughbredtimes website.

"Mr Fallon's presence on the grounds of any facility under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Racing Board calls into question the honesty and integrity of horse racing due to his current indictment in England of conspiracy to defraud," ruled the stewards.

Fallon is suspended from riding in Britain as he faces trial next year on charges of conspiracy to defraud.

However, as he holds an Irish licence he is free to ride in Ireland and other European countries.

He had applied for a licence to enable him to partner Ace in the Arlington Million and Ivan Denisovich in the Secretariat Stakes.

Both horses are trained by Aidan O'Brien, for whom Fallon won last year's Arlington Million aboard Powerscourt.

Wayne Lordan has declared himself fit to partner Drayton in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. He has been out of action since his fall from We Are The Chelsea, who broke a leg in the closing stages of the Arthur Guinness Handicap at Galway last Thursday.