Jockey Dylan Kitts admitted to deliberately restraining his horse, Hillsin, from performing to its full potential during a July 2023 handicap hurdle at Worcester, following threats from John Higgins, the father-in-law of Premier League footballer Ashley Barnes. Kitts, trainer Chris Honour, and Higgins are facing disciplinary charges for conspiring to fix the race by agreeing to prevent the horse from achieving its best placing. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) presented evidence including phone records and video footage showing Kitts made only a token effort in the race, and highlighted a pattern of communication between Honour and Higgins.

The BHA alleges that Honour encouraged Kitts to give a stopping ride and then misled stewards after the race, while Higgins was placed on the exclusion list for failing to cooperate with the investigation. Barnes was also excluded for withholding phone records. Kitts’ admission and the evidence suggest a coordinated attempt to manipulate the race outcome, with Kitts acting under direction rather than alone. Higgins denies all charges and will not attend the hearing, while Honour and Kitts are set to respond to the allegations.