Jockey Dylan Kitts admitted preventing his mount Hillsin from running on his merits after the rider said he was threatened by a Premier League footballer’s father-in-law, a hearing was told.
Kitts controversially finished third on the horse in a handicap hurdle at Worcester in July 2023.
He, trainer Chris Honour and John Higgins – an associate of owner Alan Clegg, who has not been charged – are facing a disciplinary hearing.
They are accused of breaching racing’s rules by committing, or conspiring to commit, a corrupt practice by agreeing to stop the horse from achieving his best possible placing.
In outlining the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) case against them, Louis Weston KC said Kitts made the admission about his ride when initially interviewed in October 2023.
Higgins, who is the father-in-law of Premier League footballer Ashley Barnes, was placed on the exclusion list by the BHA for his failure to cooperate in the investigation.
Burnley striker Barnes was also placed on the list after he and Higgins failed to provide their phone records.
Weston said: “Mr Kitts accepted the horse was given a stopping ride but went on to say he did so out of concern there was a threat by a gentleman called Mr Higgins, and confirmation that he should give a stopping ride and should not win the race for that was given by Chris Honour.”
