FORMER champion jockey Kieren Fallon was granted a riding licence by the British Horseracing Authority yesterday, which will enable him to return to the saddle on Friday.
FORMER champion jockey Kieren Fallon was granted a riding licence by the British Horseracing Authority yesterday, which will enable him to return to the saddle on Friday.
Fallon, six times Britain's champion jockey, has been absent from British racecourses since July 2006 due to the Old Bailey trial into alleged race-fixing, which ended in the judge ruling there was no case to answer, and an 18-month drugs suspension imposed by the French authorities.
The 44-year-old is due to have his first rides in England for three years at Lingfield and Kempton.
Confirming that Fallon's licence application had been successful, BHA public relations manager Paul Struthers said: "Kieren Fallon appeared before the licensing committee this morning (Tuesday) and has been cleared to ride from Friday."
Following the hearing, which lasted around 30 minutes, Fallon said: "It's all gone well. I'm delighted and just looking forward to Friday now.
"I hopefully will be fit enough. I have been working hard but it is different when you are race riding.
"It is good that it is on the all-weather though, because that does not take as much out of you, although I might not be saying that on Friday!
"It is just getting back into the winner's enclosure as many times as I can that is my goal.
"It does not make any difference if it is a seller or a Group One - it is just getting it done." - Sapa
Fallon is back in the saddle
FORMER champion jockey Kieren Fallon was granted a riding licence by the British Horseracing Authority yesterday, which will enable him to return to the saddle on Friday.
FORMER champion jockey Kieren Fallon was granted a riding licence by the British Horseracing Authority yesterday, which will enable him to return to the saddle on Friday.
Fallon, six times Britain's champion jockey, has been absent from British racecourses since July 2006 due to the Old Bailey trial into alleged race-fixing, which ended in the judge ruling there was no case to answer, and an 18-month drugs suspension imposed by the French authorities.
The 44-year-old is due to have his first rides in England for three years at Lingfield and Kempton.
Confirming that Fallon's licence application had been successful, BHA public relations manager Paul Struthers said: "Kieren Fallon appeared before the licensing committee this morning (Tuesday) and has been cleared to ride from Friday."
Following the hearing, which lasted around 30 minutes, Fallon said: "It's all gone well. I'm delighted and just looking forward to Friday now.
"I hopefully will be fit enough. I have been working hard but it is different when you are race riding.
"It is good that it is on the all-weather though, because that does not take as much out of you, although I might not be saying that on Friday!
"It is just getting back into the winner's enclosure as many times as I can that is my goal.
"It does not make any difference if it is a seller or a Group One - it is just getting it done." - Sapa