Fallon to ride at Churchill this weekend

Fallon and Ouija Board captured the Filly & Mare Turf by 1 1/2 lengths (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

European champion rider Kieren Fallon will be at Churchill
Downs this weekend to ride a pair of horses for Team Valor
Stables. The local jockey colony at Churchill has been decimated
by the ejection of 15 riders for the remainder of the meet.

Fallon, who two weeks ago captured the Breeders’ Cup Filly
& Mare Turf (G1) aboard Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]),
will pilot Group 3 heroine and Queen Elizabeth II Invitational
Challenge Cup (G1) third-place finisher RIVER BELLE (GB) (Lahib)
in Saturday’s $150,000 Mrs. Revere S. (G2) and SHADOWLAND (Distant
View) in Sunday’s $150,000 Commonwealth Turf. Both are turf
events.

“He is, for my money, the best grass rider in the world,”
Team Valor President Barry Irwin said. “He has ridden and
won for us in England. We try to get him any time we can. The
thought of having him ride two live mounts for us in one weekend
right here in Kentucky is surreal.”

Irwin was discussing the lack of available riders for the
weekend stakes with Churchill’s Racing Secretary Doug Bredar
earlier this week when Bredar mentioned that Fallon might be
interested in coming to the United States. The English-based
rider will arrive in America on Thursday and visit Churchill
Downs on Friday to get his Kentucky state license.