Nine-Year Ban for Jockey in Race Fixing Conspiracy
A conditional jockey has been banned from racing for nine years after an independent disciplinary panel found he deliberately tried to stop his horse from winning a race. Dylan Kitts received the lengthy suspension for his actions during a race at Worcester in July 2023, where he prevented his mount, Hillsin, from achieving victory.
The Conspiracy and Key Players
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) panel determined that Kitts had been groomed by John Higgins, an associate of the horse's owner Alan Clegg. The panel concluded that while Kitts participated in the scheme, he was not the prime mover in the conspiracy. Higgins, identified as the instigator, has been given a 12-year ban from the sport, backdated to 7 March last year when he was placed on the BHA exclusion list.
Trainer Chris Honour was also implicated in the case, receiving a £750 fine for misleading stewards after the race. However, the panel did not consider Honour to be a driving force behind the plot. Kitts, who has since left the racing industry, had his ban backdated to the start of his interim suspension on 13 July 2023.
BHA's Strong Stance on Integrity
In a statement released on Monday 24th November 2025, the BHA emphasised the seriousness of the offences. The penalties handed down to John Higgins and Dylan Kitts today for conspiring to prevent Hillsin from winning sends a clear message that British racing will not tolerate conduct of this kind, the authority stated.
The BHA highlighted that running and riding horses to achieve their best possible position represents the minimum standard expected in the sport, crucial for maintaining public confidence. The investigation was described as extensive in nature, not dissimilar to a complex fraud case, involving significant evidence analysis, numerous interviews, and the first-time use of telephone data extraction powers.
The authority welcomed the sanctions, stating they reflect the seriousness of the breach and the commitment to ensuring a clean and fair sport for all participants and supporters.
