Premier League star's father-in-law, jockey and trainer charged by BHA with offences

The father-in-law of Premier League footballer Ashley Barnes, a jockey and trainer are facing a raft of corruption charges for allegedly being involved in preventing a horse from winning.

The performance of Hillsin, whose running in a race at Worcester in July 2023 provoked a huge storm, has been the focus of a BHA investigation for more than two years. The incident was referred to the BHA after the raceday stewards concluded the horse had been ridden “without appearing to ever be asked for its finishing effort” when placing third in a handicap hurdle, a length and a quarter behind the winner.

READ MORE: Lee Westwood slams state of British horse racing: 'Owners are taken the p*** out of’

READ MORE: India’s top jockey focused on the 'positive, not negative' after Shergar Cup fallout

The horse, who had drifted in the betting from 2-1 favourite overnight to 11-1, was banned from racing for 40 days.

Dylan Kitts, who has not ridden in a race since, was initially issued with an exclusion order for failing to cooperate with the investigation but it was lifted after two days.

Chris Honour, who ordered the registered owner to remove the horse from his yard after receiving death threats, has always vehemently denied any involvement in any alleged corrupt practice, telling Mirror Online at the time, “It was the worst day of my life. It looked bloody awful, there is no getting away from it.”

Barnes, who plays for Burnley, and the footballer's father-in-law John Higgins were placed on the BHA’s exclusion list in March last year for failing to cooperate with an investigation.

The case is due to come to a head next week after the BHA announced the charges would be heard by a disciplinary panel on Monday.

Higgins, Kitts and Honour are charged with committing and conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice by “agreeing to stop” Hillsin from achieving the best possible position.

Kitts faces charges relating to “stopping” the horse and Honour is accused of three offences incudling “encouraging” Kitts to give a “stopping ride” and lying to stewards.