Fallon Charged Over 10 Million UK Pound Betting Fraud

Police have charged former champion jockey Kieren Fallon with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers with 10 million UK Pounds in bets.

The charges were made less than 24 hours after Fallon won the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Dylan Thomas.

London City police made the charges after their probe into allegations on the jockeys' fraudulent racing from December 2002 to September 2004.

Fallon was only one of 11 people charged with the same assault.

Fallon, 41, has been subsequently suspended from racing in the UK pending the completion of his trial, involving allegations that a gambling syndicate was behind the losing game of some jockeys.

UK's Horseracing Regulatory Authority (formerly the Jockey Club) ruled that Fallon could race again only after he is proven innocent in the allegation.

The City of London Police said this probe was the biggest of its type ever undertaken. Over 130 police officers were involved in the arrest of over 30 people, 17 of whom would not face charges.

Despite his suspension in London, Fallon will continue to race in Ireland. Irish Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan explained to reporters: "He (Fallon) will be able to continue to ride. The licensing committee will obviously note what has happened, but as far as we are concerned Kieren Fallon is innocent until proven guilty."