Sorting the Fallon facts from fiction

So what is the truth behind the Fallon incident and the betting exchanges?

Fallon deliberately took things easy on his mount to let a gambled-on rival win . . .

As John McEnroe once said: "You cannot be serious." Fallon has sailed close to the wind in reaching the top but the suggestion he would have the nerve to send a horse 10 lengths clear and then have the brass neck to ease down just enough to get beaten by a short head is bizarre.

Fallon made a schoolboy howler which will cost him dearly . . .

Almost certainly true. Fallon took one look over his shoulder a furlong out but didn't see Rye closing and galvanised his mount too late to retrieve the situation. Hard-liners like Channel 4's John McCririck would like to see him banned for six months. A ban of up to 21 days is more likely, but even that would cost him a series of major rides and a minimum of £20,000 in earnings.

Ballinger Ridge had no more to give when challenged . . .

Nonsense. Ballinger Ridge's trainer Andrew Balding stood by his man, but in this case his loyalty was surely misplaced. Although the horse has never won, few doubt he would have lasted home had Fallon pushed him out.

The market signals suggested something suspicious was afoot . . .

Not really. In what was effectively a two-horse race, Balding had been playing down Ballinger Ridge's chance, while Rye's trainer Jamie Osborne said his horse was capable of winning "doing handsprings". It was only to be expected that Rye would shorten and that Ballinger Ridge would drift.

Betfair called the Jockey Club because of the weight of money being traded on the race . . .

Inaccurate. Betfair regularly handle more than £1million on a race, but that figure is inflated by the fact that clients often back a horse to win at one price before laying it to lose at shorter odds in the hope of securing a guaranteed profit. PR director Mark Davies reports that "there was nothing exceptional about the volume traded in this instance".

Betfair called the Jockey Club because of concerns about who was betting on the race . . .

True. Betfair have a 'watch list' which flashes red when clients with an abnormally high level of success involving certain jockeys and trainers access the site. The watch list changes over time and currently numbers fewer than 10. Tuesday's case centred around a punter who has enjoyed a charmed run recently.

The Jockey Club can question punters on the watch list . . .

Only if they are licensed individuals subject to the rules of racing such as jockeys, trainers, owners and stable staff. Anyone else who tries to use exchanges to corrupt racing must be dealt with by the police. Betfair report that "we have not seen fit to report any account-holder to the police thus far".

Fallon could be in deep trouble once the probe is conducted . . .

Not according to Betfair spokesman Davies. He said: "This is a classic case of people getting over-excited about what happens on betting exchanges. If Kieren's horse had held on to win by a neck, nothing would have been said. Racing is as straight as it has ever been and many of the people who suggest otherwise are doing it for their own commercial advantage. Traditional bookmakers have most to lose from the success of the betting exchanges."

The Jockey Club are equipped to deal with exchange malpractice . . .

Not yet. Racing's rulers have signed a memo of understanding with various exchanges but are too reliant on information supplied by third parties as opposed to instigating inquiries themselves. Who knows whether every suspect race has been brought to the attention of the authorities? Either way, the Jockey Club will be better equipped when a full-time betting analyst joins the Portman Square payroll soon.

Publicity over exchanges will die down soon . . .

You're joking. Betting blacksmith Steve O'Sullivan faces a Jockey Club inquiry into his involvement in a series of exchange drifters who ran badly. Jumps owner Darren Mercer also faces a probe into laying his star chaser Joss Naylor in the Welsh National, while Platinum Racing Club boss Miles Rodgers is at the centre of a probe into laying his own horses to lose with Betfair.

So exchanges are a potential vehicle for corruption?

Of course, says William Hill spokesman David Hood. "Racing's integrity jumped out the window the moment exchanges jumped in."

But are they here to stay?

Definitely, says Davies. "The day we see a high-profile conviction will be a huge help in making anyone tempted to break the rules realise that they are being tracked."