Jockey Egan cleared to ride despite arrest warrant

Irish jockey John Egan was today given the all clear to carry on riding in Britain by the Jockey Club.

Irish jockey John Egan was today given the all clear to carry on riding in Britain by the Jockey Club.

The Galway-born rider attended a meeting of the licensing committee at Portman Square in London this morning, where an arrest warrant against Egan in Hong Kong was considered.

But the committee allowed Egan to continued riding in Britain, pending further investigations.

Egan declined to comment as he left after the two-hour hearing and headed straight to Lingfield for his one booked ride.

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But his solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said: "John has had a fair hearing. Having heard all the evidence, the committee has decided not to suspend his licence. John is obviously pleased and is now off to Lingfield."

Egan was yesterday urged by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to return to the former British colony to answer allegations that he accepted favours in return for racing information.

Egan and South African jockey Robbie Fradd were arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in February as part of an investigation into alleged race-fixing and illegal bookmaking.

They were put in jail and released after two days. A total of 21 people were detained for questioning.

Egan and Fradd were suspended by the HKJC but are free to ride anywhere else in the world.

PA