Duo ‘conspired together’ in controversial finish

It has been discovered that Dylan Kitts and John Higgins conspired to defraud the horse by agreeing to stop it from performing its best position.

When he placed third in a handicap hurdle at Worcester in July 2023, former jockey Kitts admitted to a disciplinary hearing that he had prevented his mount Hillsin from competing on his merits.

Kitts, 24, claimed he did it after Higgins threatened him, but the independent disciplinary panel determined otherwise.

Higgins is the son of Premier League footballer Ashley Barnes and works for the horse’s owner, Alan Clegg, who was unindicted by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Trainer Chris Honour was accused, but he has since been exonerated from the conspiracy.

The panel’s decision was delivered on Friday following four days of deliberation and concluded that Honour had only misled the stewards during the post-race investigation.

A BHA statement read, “The confidence among those who participate in, wager, and watch our sport are … watching our sport’s progress in a manner that is both fair and transparent,” read the statement.

Because it strikes at the very core of this confidence, a case like this is “so serious.”

The actions of those responsible for this incident are in direct conflict with British racing’s values and insult the many thousands of people who dedicate their lives to this sport and to fair competition.

The hearing’s outcome demonstrates that our sport won’t tolerate this kind of behavior, the statement reads.

Early in the month of November, a sanctions hearing is scheduled.

Kitts has since stopped racing and partnered with Hillsin.

Higgins was previously excluded by the BHA because of his inability to cooperate with the investigation.