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The trial of British jockeys, Kieren Fallon, Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams along with Shaun Lynch (Fergal’s brother), Philip Sherkle and Miles Rodgers begins this morning at 10:30 in the Old Bailey, London.

The six co-defendants stand accused of conspiracy to defraud after allegedly agreeing not to permit certain horses from running to the best of their ability, and laying the horses to lose (for profit) on Betfair betting exchange.

Miles Rodgers is also accused of concealing the proceeds of crime.

The trial has seen much delay in getting to this stage, and it has been over a year since they were first arrested and charged for these offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2002 and September 2004 - between five and three years ago.

More recently, the start of the trial was delayed as the court was flooded by a burst water main. All of this worry, one would think, might put Fallon off his game, but that appears untrue as the multiple Champion British jockey won yesterday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere. Indeed, in this race Fallon had to wait while the judiciary of racing (the stewards) decided whether or not the result should stand.

Some have questioned whether Fallon should be riding at all with this trial hanging over him, and the likelihood that a guilty verdict will result in a lengthy ban from race riding. The fact remains he has been allowed to ride, and should he be found to be innocent, then all his successes after the time he was charged will seem deserved. However, a guilty verdict would cast a fairly large shadow over the sport, not least because Fallon is one of the most successful jockeys of the past decade.