Jockey Dylan Kitts has received a nine-year ban for deliberately stopping a horse from winning at the Worcester Races in July 2023. The 24-year-old jockey and his assistant John Higgins, who was banned from racing for 12 years, were found guilty in September of conspiring to prevent the horse from winning the top prize. They were sentenced by the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) Independent Disciplinary Panel on Monday.
Trainer Chris Honor, who was cleared of involvement in the conspiracy, was fined £750 for misleading officials after a race where Kitts’ horse, Hirsin, lost by a length and a quarter due to Kitts deliberately holding the horse back. The panel noted Kitts was 21 at the time and was effectively “groomed” by the then 77-year-old Higgins with the promise of future rides, indicating that Kitts was not the ringleader. The panel also acknowledged Kitts’ genuine remorse.
John Higgins, stepfather of Burnley footballer Ashley Barnes, has been placed on the BHA’s exclusion list starting March 2024 after refusing to cooperate with the investigation. His suspension is retroactive from that date, while Kitts’ suspension began the week after the race when his license was officially revoked.
The BHA stated that the penalties serve as a strong warning that such behavior will not be tolerated in British horse racing. They emphasized that all participants are expected to run and ride horses to perform at their best, ensuring fair competition and maintaining trust in the sport. The misconduct of Higgins and Kitts undermined the hard work of many dedicated individuals who uphold the sport’s integrity.
The investigation was extensive, resembling a complex fraud case, involving detailed analysis of evidence and interviews, including the first use of telephone data extraction powers by the BHA. This thorough approach was necessary given the gravity of the accusations.
Hirsin was switched to a new trainer immediately after the race and has since won three races. The horse is set to compete in a 2 pm race at Hereford on Tuesday under trainer Alan Jones. Kitts is believed to be currently working outside the horse racing industry.
Fan Take: This ruling is a crucial step in safeguarding the integrity of horse racing, showing that any form of cheating will face severe consequences. For fans, it reaffirms the sport’s commitment to fairness and restores confidence that races are genuine contests of skill and dedication.
