Racing: Fallon refused permission to ride in Million

Kieren Fallon's hopes of maintaining the momentum of his riding career abroad while banned in Britain took a blow yesterday when he was refused permission to ride Ace for Aidan O'Brien in tomorrow's Arlington Million in Chicago.

The Arlington Park stewards have upheld the Illinois Racing Board's ruling that suspensions from other jurisdictions must be honoured at the state's tracks.

"Mr Fallon's presence on the grounds of any facility under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Racing Board calls into question the honesty and integrity of horse racing due to his current indictment in England of conspiracy to defraud," ruled the stewards. Fallon is suspended from riding in Britain as he faces trial next year on charges of conspiracy to defraud. However, as he holds an Irish licence he is free to ride in Ireland and other European countries.