A young jockey, Dylan Kitts, admitted to deliberately restraining a horse named Hillsin from winning a race at Worcester in July 2023 after allegedly receiving a threat from John Higgins, the father-in-law of Premier League footballer Ashley Barnes. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has been investigating the incident for over two years, with accusations that Kitts, trainer Chris Honour, and Higgins conspired to fix the race outcome. Evidence presented included race footage showing Kitts holding the horse back and phone records revealing communication and money transfers between Kitts, Higgins, and Barnes, suggesting a corrupt arrangement.

While Hillsin’s registered owner, Alan Clegg, was not implicated and had backed the horse to win, Higgins and Barnes reportedly profited from betting on the race. Higgins was banned in 2024 and excluded himself from the disciplinary hearing citing medical reasons, which were deemed insufficient by the inquiry chair. Barnes was excluded from the investigation for failing to cooperate but has not been charged. The inquiry is ongoing, with further scrutiny on the relationships and communications between the parties involved.