Dylan Kitts and John Higgins were found to have conspired to fix the outcome of a horse race by deliberately preventing the horse Hillsin from achieving its best possible position in a July 2023 handicap hurdle at Worcester. Kitts, a former jockey, admitted to not riding the horse on its merits, claiming he was threatened by Higgins. However, an independent disciplinary panel rejected this defense, concluding Kitts had the opportunity to refuse the instructions. Higgins, linked to the horse’s owner Alan Clegg and father-in-law to footballer Ashley Barnes, was previously excluded by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) for non-cooperation, while trainer Chris Honour was cleared of conspiracy but found to have misled stewards.

The BHA emphasized the seriousness of the case, highlighting its threat to the integrity and public confidence in British racing. Kitts has since left the sport, and a sanctions hearing is scheduled for November. Both Higgins and Barnes were placed on the BHA exclusion list after failing to provide phone records during the investigation, underscoring the sport’s commitment to maintaining fairness and transparency.