Jockey at centre of Hillsin case excluded for non-cooperation with investigation

14 February 2024 , 18:30

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Dylan Kitts: the jockey has not cooperated with a BHA investigation (Image: PA)

A jockey at the centre of an investigation into a controversial ride has been excluded from the sport.

Dylan Kitts was a 22-year-old conditional rider with 11 wins to his name when he was suspended indefinitely last year. This followed a ride at Worcester in July in which he rode Hillsin to finish third in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.

Hillsin was banned from racing for 40 days and the incident referred to the BHA after the stewards concluded the horse had been ridden “without appearing to ever be asked for its finishing effort” by Kitts.

The horse crossed the line just a length and a quarter behind the winner, having gone off an 11-1 chance and at one point touched 2-1 favouritism.

The ride provoked a lot of negative reaction with Chris Honour, trainer of the horse, reporting he had received a death threat. He subsequently asked for the horse to be removed from his stables.

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The investigation remains “ongoing” according to the BHA who, in an update, announced action had been taken against Kitts.

Hillsin (circled) finishing third under apparent tender handling

“The BHA can today confirm that Mr Dylan Kitts has been issued with a disciplinary officer exclusion order as a result of his failure to cooperate with an investigation.

“This order, which prohibits Mr Kitts from attending premises licensed by the BHA and/or associating with racing’s participants, has been issued after Mr Kitts failed to provide relevant information requested by the BHA’s integrity team as part of an ongoing investigation.”

Kitts previously served a 14 day suspension in May for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing in a maiden hurdle at Warwick.

Jon Lees