‘I chose the wrong path' – Former jockey banned for 12 years in ‘largest race-fixing ring ever' set for shock return
Greg Fairley was set for superstardom when crowned champion apprentice in 2007, beating William Buick to the title.
1
Former champion apprentice jockey Greg Fairley was banned for 12 years for his role in British racing's biggest ever fixing scandal - but is now all set to return to the track
Credit: PA:Press Association
Fairley, who is from Scotland, 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 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 for 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 announced he had quit racing before the BHA's findings were published and, in his own words, 'ran away' back home to run a tree surgery business.
His ban ran out in December 2013 and he unsuccessfully reapplied for his riding licence last year.
But he was given the thumbs up at another hearing last month - although the BHA will attach a number of conditions to his licence.
Most read in Horse Racing
All in all, the granting of the licence paves the way for Fairley, 37, to return to racing in the very near future.
In a statement, he addressed his past ban and said he is firmly focused on returning to the winner's enclosure 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.
"There are still some elements of the licencing procedure that I need to complete before my licence is issued but I'm very excited to be on the verge of race-riding again."
FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org
.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare –
Gamble Aware –
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
George Russell facing anxious wait to discover if he has Mercedes seat next year
George Russell's wait for his Formula One future to be confirmed is set to extend until at least next month's summer break. Max Verstappen's break clause from his Red Bull contract can no longer be activated after his fourth-placed finish at Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix ensured the Dutchman will not be lower than third in the world championship when the sport enters its mid-season shutdown. Mercedes have made little secret of their desire to sign the four-time world champion. As it stands, Russell – who despite a series of impressive performances this year – is without a deal for 2026. Lights, camera, action 🎬 Ready to go racing in Hungary! 🇭🇺 — Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 28, 2025 Mercedes, however, would now be forced to buy Verstappen out of his Red Bull contract which runs until 2028 – and that could accelerate their decision to announce Russell will be retained. But the PA news agency has been told by a source there are no plans for an official update on the British driver's future prior to Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix. A three-week break follows before the next round in the Netherlands on August 31. Despite the continued speculation surrounding suggestions Verstappen could trade Red Bull for Mercedes, those close to the Russell camp have indicated for a number of weeks the 27-year-old is extremely confident of striking a contract extension. And it would appear highly unlikely that a new deal with Mercedes will not be finalised. Russell finished fifth on Sunday but Mercedes endured a difficult weekend in the Ardennes. Russell's rookie team-mate Kimi Antonelli's dismal run of form continued after he crossed the line in 16th. The 18-year-old has scored points in just one of his last seven appearances. He was close to tears after qualifying on Saturday, admitting he was struggling with his confidence. Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton went to see Kimi Antonelli before Sunday's race (Yves Herman/AP) That prompted a visit from Lewis Hamilton to the Mercedes motorhome ahead of Sunday's race to offer the driver who replaced him some words of encouragement. Hamilton started in the pit lane and drove from 18th to seventh but Antonelli – who also begun the rain-hit race from the pits – laboured and finished 52 seconds behind team-mate Russell. Russell has scored 157 points to Antonelli's 63 after 13 of the 24 rounds. Mercedes are third in the constuctors' standings, 296 points adrift of McLaren.
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ex-beauty queen is shot dead in front of baby daughter and her partner amid explosion of drug cartel violence in Ecuador
AN EX-beauty queen has been shot dead while travelling in a car with her baby daughter and partner in Ecuador amid the country's ongoing struggle with Esther Gabriela Murillo Cruz, 25, was ambushed by two men on a motorbike who sprayed the vehicle with 3 Esther Gabriela Murillo Cruz was fatally shot while travelling with her baby and partner 3 The ex-beauty queen is just one of thousands to have been killed in Ecuador in the last few months 3 The model's partner was also hospitalised in the attack The model was rushed to a local hospital in Manta just after 3am on Saturday where she was treated for But despite medics' best efforts, she was soon pronounced dead. Her 30-year-old partner and one-year-old baby are also believed to have been hospitalised in the attack, local reports said. The ex-beauty queen had been travelling on the Circunvalación highway, in Manabí - one of Authorities have since launched an urgent investigation into the attack to determine the perpetrators and their motive. Esther won three local beauty competitions and became the "Queen of Marabi province" in 2018. News of her death has left her tens of thousands social media followers devastated - with many calling on leaders to do more to combat crime in the area. One distraught commenter said: "How sad! And such a girl, with a whole life ahead of her!" Most read in The US Sun While another wrote: "Comfort and strength to your family". The embattled country has seen its Watch as fugitive drug lord Fito 'The Lion' is found in trapdoor lair after daughter, 3, accidentally revealed hideout Earlier this year, a man believed to be a British national was in a popular eco-tourism area on the country's border with . A mob stormed a The shocking scenes are all too common for a nation whose murder rates now rank amongst the highest in the world, with civilians regularly caught in the crossfire and streets turning lawless as cops struggle to keep up with criminality and violence. In 2023 alone, the country saw more than 8,000 deaths, an eightfold rise compared to 2018, putting it above other nations famed for their cartel violence such as And a new record for the most killings in a single month was broken in January, with 781 killings. After a series of riots saw the Despite attempts by the country's government and armed forces to crack down on the cartels, Televised takeover The most dramatic example of the escalating violence occurred in January last year, when 'They were kids - kids with guns,' the presenter, Luis Calderón, later told the Guardian. 'They seemed proud of what they were doing… it was as if they were playing a game - only with extremely dangerous and lethal weapons,' he recalled. Police successfully made 13 arrests following the attack, which also happened in the port city of Gauyaquil. Then in May, a further eight were killed after a bar was sprayed with bullets where people had gathered to celebrate a birthday in the coastal province of Santa Elena. Many of the Gangs such as Los Tiguerones, Los Lobos, and Los Choneros have even resorted to gruesome tactics such as cutting out the hearts of captured rivals and showing off the killings on social media. Read more on the Irish Sun Other victims may find themselves being hanged from bridges, their limp bodies serving as a warning to anyone entering the cartel's territory. While South America has long been associated with drug-related violence, Ecuador for years remained relatively peaceful and free from any serious gang violence.
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump says he has not been asked to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell following Epstein interviews
US President Donald Trump has said he has not been asked to pardon disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell following her 'truthful' answers to government questions about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell was found guilty in December 2021 of luring young girls to massage rooms for paedophile financier Epstein to molest between 1994 and 2004. The US Department of Justice met with the 63-year-old convicted sex-trafficker last week – interviews in which her lawyer David Markus said his client would 'testify truthfully'. The US government faced a backlash from Mr Trump's support base following words from Attorney General Pam Bondi that there was no evidence Epstein had a 'client list'. Following the criticisms, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell over the course of two days – with Mr Blanche saying: 'No-one is above the law and no lead is off-limits.' Mr Markus previously said the disgraced socialite had not been offered a pardon as part of the interview process. Right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it In a short statement ahead of the meetings, the lawyer said: 'I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. 'We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.' Questioned on whether he had been asked to pardon Maxwell, the US President told reporters on Monday: 'Well, I'm allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody's approached me with it. Nobody's asked me about it. 'It's in the news – that aspect of it – but right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.' During her three-week trial in 2021, jurors heard prosecutors describe Maxwell as 'dangerous', and were told details of how she helped entice vulnerable teenagers to Epstein's various properties for him to sexually abuse. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the southern district of New York (SDNY) in June 2022. Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.
