Trainer Chris Honour is accused of conspiring to prevent his horse Hillsin from winning a race at Worcester in July 2023, allegedly in exchange for being sent more horses by the father-in-law of a Premier League footballer. Honour, along with former jockey Dylan Kitts and owner associate John Higgins, faces charges related to deliberately stopping Hillsin from winning the Wacky Weekender Festival Pitchcroft Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. Honour and Higgins deny the allegations, while Kitts has admitted to not allowing the horse to run on its merits. Honour claims he was trying to help Kitts and did not intend to mislead, denying any deliberate wrongdoing.
The disciplinary panel heard that Honour had frequent contact with Higgins and felt pressured to make a good impression after a previous incident where Hillsin was unable to race. Kitts testified that Higgins instructed him not to let the horse win, but Honour’s defense argues Kitts lacks credibility. Higgins, who has not cooperated with the investigation due to ill health, was excluded from racing activities in March 2024. The hearing has concluded with final submissions pending.
