logo
Jockey banned for role in ‘biggest race-fixing storm ever' beaten by 40-1 outsider on first ride back in 14 years

Jockey banned for role in ‘biggest race-fixing storm ever' beaten by 40-1 outsider on first ride back in 14 years

The Sun07-07-2025
A JOCKEY banned from racing for his role in the 'biggest race-fixing storm ever' was beaten by a 40-1 outsider on his first ride back in 14 years.
Greg Fairley beat William Buick to the Champion Apprentice title in 2007 and looked all set for superstardom in the saddle.
2
2
He would go onto Group 1 glory and massive prize money earnings of £2.8million on the track over a few short years, banging in 381 winners in Britain alone.
But his career looked done and dusted in 2011 - the last time he raced - when he was hit with a colossal ban for two of the most serious rules breaches.
He was found guilty of riding a horse to lose - 'failing to obtain the best possible placing' - and passing on inside information for reward.
A total of 11 people were sanctioned by the BHA in what at the time was called the 'largest race-fixing ring ever exposed in British racing history'.
Fairley and fellow jockey Paul Doe were warned off for a dozen years, while two owners were banned for 14 for betting on their horses to lose, 'corrupting' jockeys in the process.
Fairley last rode 14 years ago but, having served his time and been regranted a licence by the BHA, he made his comeback at Ayr on Monday.
The ring that led to 66 years of bans - what happened?
By Sam Morgan
GREG Fairley was part of what at the time was called 'the biggest race-fixing ring ever' in British racing.
He and fellow rider Paul Doe were hit with 12-year bans following a BHA probe.
While Kirsty Milczarek, who was the girlfriend of six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon, was banned for two years and Jimmy Quinn got a six-month suspension.
Five others - Nick Gold, Peter Gold, Shaun Harris, David Kendrick and Liam Vasey - were also found guilty of 'corrupt or fraudulent practice'.
Vasey, Kendrick and Harris were banned for five, four and three years respectively, while the Golds were later banned for seven and five years respectively as part of a separate investigation.
The probe found that owners Maurice 'Fred' Sines and James Crickmore - who were given the biggest 14-year bans - were the leaders of the ring that netted almost £280,000 from ten races.
The case all centred around horses being backed to lose races between January and August 2009.
BHA director Paul Scotney said at the time: "The investigation uncovered a network through which Sines and Crickmore engaged in betting activity, in particular with two riders, Paul Doe and Greg Fairley, that impacted on seven of the 10 races in question.
"In the BHA's history, the scale and complexity of this case is unprecedented."
Fairley, who would go onto become a tree surgeon, found more controversy after the ban.
There were calls for him to repay £1,500 spent on teaching him to how to use a chainsaw as part of a jockeys' retraining scheme.
But it was later deemed 'impractical' to pursue him for the money.
Scottish trainer Iain Jardine gave Fairley, who in his own words 'ran away' back home to Scotland to run a tree surgery business before the BHA announced his ban, the ride on 4-1 Superior Council.
The six-year-old gelding, who had finished first and second on his two most recent starts, had been backed into as short as 3-1 before drifting slightly before the off.
But despite jumping well from the stalls he found little in the 6f race and finished eighth of 16.
Former Amo Racing jockey Kevin Stott was on the winner - two-time Grand National champ Lucinda Russell's 40-1 South Road.
In a statement written before his return, Fairley addressed his past ban and said it's all now behind him as he focuses on winning again.
Fairley wrote: "Fifteen years ago I chose a path that was wrong and paid a justifiably significant price for my poor decisions.
"I'm incredibly grateful to the licencing committee of the BHA for giving me a second chance.
"I would also like to thank Sandy Thomson, Iain Jardine and Charlie and Mark Johnston who have all been very supportive."
.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Asylum seekers ‘gambling away tax-payer funded cash cards' meant for food and clothing ‘on slot machines and casinos'
Asylum seekers ‘gambling away tax-payer funded cash cards' meant for food and clothing ‘on slot machines and casinos'

The Sun

time18 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Asylum seekers ‘gambling away tax-payer funded cash cards' meant for food and clothing ‘on slot machines and casinos'

OVER 6,000 asylum seekers have used government-issued cards loaded with £50 a week at betting shops and casinos. Pre-paid cards given out to pay for basics including food and clothing are being used in gambling venues, Home Office data reveals. 9 9 9 While attempts to gamble online using the cards had been made, they were blocked each time so they were forced to use them in physical sites, as reported by PoliticsHome. This is because they can only be activated by using the chip and pin. There are currently around 80,000 ASPEN card users in the UK. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told PoliticsHome: 'It is shocking that over 6,000 illegal immigrants have attempted to use hard-working British taxpayers' money to gamble. "They have illegally entered this country without needing to – France is safe, and no one needs to flee from there. 'The British taxpayer has put them up in hotels, and now they slap us in the face by using the money they are given to fund gambling. "These illegal immigrants clearly don't need the money they are given if they are squandering it at casinos and arcades.' When asylum seekers are placed in fully catered hotels, the ASPEN card is loaded with roughly £9.95 per week. Meanwhile, in self-catered set ups, they are given around £49.18 per week. Data revealed, 227 migrants successfully used the cards to gamble in a week in November last year. Farage fury as cops admit ESCORTING pro-migrant protesters to Essex asylum hotel This month, were 40 incidents is the lowest recorded amount in one week. It is understood the Home Office is working on a solution to prevent this happening. Prepaid Financial Services and the Home Office have been contacted for comment. This comes as we revealed how migrants suspected of illegally working as delivery drivers were nicked by the Home Office yesterday. 9 9 9 The raid was sparked after the Government gave out the locations of asylum hotels. We revealed how platforms like Just Eat and Deliveroo would be able to block users from taking orders at known asylum accommodation sites. Yesterday Immigration Enforcement officers questioned a number of delivery riders in Wood Green, North London, where at least one man was detained. A photo shows officers talking to the men, including some wearing Just Eat uniforms. One rider suspected of working illegally, who was wearing a beige t-shirt, was searched and placed in the back of a van. And just two weeks ago, there was another Immigration Enforcement raid on the Thistle City Hotel in Islington, Central London, which had been used as a hub for illicit gig economy jobs. When The Sun returned to the hotel on Tuesday we found delivery rider bags and e-bikes were still parked in a fenced-off enclosure outside the three-star hotel. And we saw a steady stream of riders coming and going despite pledges by the Home Office to crack down. Outrage was also sparked this week after workers were spotted hauling beds into a posh London hotel that is set to house hundreds of asylum seekers. Labourers wheeled in the new furniture at the four-star Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf this morning, following an anti-migrant protest outside the property last night. Around 150 activists had surrounded the hotel - in London's eastern financial centre - last night after false reports claimed asylum seekers were being transferred there from another migrant hotel in Epping. The rumours, circulated on X by far-right figure Tommy Robinson, claimed migrants would be moved from The Bell Hotel in Epping to the Canary Wharf building. While the Home Office later debunked these claims, it has been revealed that the hotel - where rooms cost up to £460 a night - will be repurposed as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. A spokesman for the Tower Hamlets Council said: 'We are aware of the Government's decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. 'It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. 'We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.' It has been confirmed that no asylum seekers are currently living there - the Home Office reserves beds in empty hotel rooms in case of a surge in crossings over the summer period. Home Office sources revealed to The Sun that the average cost per night for a hotel room for a migrant is now £118.87, down from £162.16 in March 2023. Housing asylum seekers in hotels costs the taxpayer £5.77million a day. Some 23,534 migrants have already arrived on small boats this year — 48 per cent higher than this time in 2024. GROWING UNREST Chaos was sparked outside the hotel in Epping last week after an asylum seeker appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The unrest saw yobs launching themselves on riot vans, smashing windshields and ripping off wingmirrors in senseless displays of "hooliganism". One thug was even run over while attempting to stop a police van gaining access to the hotel. Another man had his teeth knocked out after riot cops smashed a shield into his face in a brutal clash. Cops arrested two men, aged 36, and 47, on suspicion of violent disorder under Section 2 of the Public Order Act. A 51-year-old has also now been charged with violent disorder. A 34-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of breaching Section 60AA of the Public Order Act. Meanwhile, two teens aged 17 and 16, were also arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle and going equipped to cause criminal damage, respectively. The force confirmed eight officers were injured in the clashes. The protest was sparked by a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker who was arrested and later charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, denies sexual assault. He appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied all charges. His arrest led to multiple protests in the region, culminating in the violent clashes. Since tensions reached boiling point, violent demonstrations have cost the force £100,000. 9 9 9

HAPs, warriors and power ponies: what to say about the Lionesses
HAPs, warriors and power ponies: what to say about the Lionesses

Times

time39 minutes ago

  • Times

HAPs, warriors and power ponies: what to say about the Lionesses

W ell, here we are again. England's women footballers are into the Euro 2025 final, their third consecutive major final, having knocked out Italy in a match that left the nation hiding behind the sofa, well after its bedtime. That followed a quarter-final against Sweden that ended in a penalty shoot-out and during which I chewed my nail varnish clean off. Some things never change in English football, then. But when it comes to the Lionesses there are new faces, more lucrative endorsement deals and weddings to report. At least our Dutch manager, Sarina Wiegman, still wears her trademark white T-shirts. So what do you need to know? Here's your guide to the team before Sunday's match. Chloe Kelly has been a household name since celebrating England's 2022 Euros win in her sports bra. But as recently as January the super-sub was considering giving it all up and in a 'dark place' after being left out of her Manchester City side and at risk of dropping out of the Lionesses due to a lack of regular match play. Thankfully, a successful loan to Arsenal — where the Londoner began her career aged 12 and with whom she signed permanently just three weeks ago — led to her securing her spot at the Euros.

Maguire wins 2025 Championship League
Maguire wins 2025 Championship League

BBC News

timean hour ago

  • BBC News

Maguire wins 2025 Championship League

Stephen Maguire has won the first ranking event of the season, beating Joe O'Connor 3-1 in the final of the 2025 Championship League in Leicester. It is the 44-year-old Scot's seventh career ranking title from 15 finals and his first since winning the 2020 Tour Championship. The tournament, which takes place over three stages and began at Leicester Arena on 30 June, reached its finale on Wednesday, with just eight of the 128-strong field remaining. Maguire booked his spot in the final after topping Group 2 in a best-of-four frame round-robin. The 15th seed beat Matthew Selt (3-0) and Ben Mertens (3-0) before losing to China's Pang Junxu (3-1). Leicester-born O'Connor, seeded 16th, only dropped two frames to finish first in Group 1, beating Ricky Walden (3-1), Xu Si (3-1), and Tom Ford (3-0). In the best-of-five frame final, Maguire took a 2-0 lead before O'Connor pulled one frame back with a 99-point break. However, Maguire produced a match-winning 89 to secure the title with a frame to spare.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store