Jockey Kieren Fallon was arrested

The horseracing world was rocked to its foundations today as champion jockey Kieren Fallon was arrested over allegations of involvement in a massive race fixing scam.

Detectives are investigating a long series of alleged frauds covering more than 80 races around the country over the last two years.

The probe hinges on records of irregular betting provided to police by the Internet website Betfair.

But Betfair’s sophisticated tracking system only began two years ago and sources said the alleged scam could have been going on for years before that and involved bets placed at racecourses.

Online race betting on Betfair allows punters to "lay" a horse – effectively they act as the bookmaker taking bets from other Internet gamblers, reports Scotsman.

Fallon's solicitor, Christopher Stewart-Moore, said: "Kieren Fallon has not been charged with any offence. He has been released without charge.

"The circumstances that relate to his arrest involve an individual who Kieren Fallon has met on one occasion and whose name he did not even know at the time the meeting happened."

Media reported widely that Fallon and lesser-known jockeys Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams were among the three arrested, and north of England-based trainer Karl Burke.

Police said later 12 of the 16 arrested had been bailed.

All three jockeys named in the media were not present at York races on Wednesday where they had been due to ride, informs Reuters.

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