Fallon wins fourth English riding title
Jockey Kieren Fallon on Friday was crowned England's leading rider for the fourth time and celebrated the milestone with a victory on the final day of the flat season at Doncaster on Saturday.
Fallon, who won three straight riding titles from 1997 to '99 before suffering a shoulder injury last year that knocked him out of contention, finished the year with 166 winners, eight more then runner-up Kevin Darley. Fallon rode 202 winners in both '97 and '99 and had 204 winners in '98.
Darley presented Fallon with a specially commissioned trophy after Friday's fourth race when he clinched the title aboard Town Moor.
"It has been a great battle (with Darley) all the way through, and when my lead went down from 25 to eight I thought I was going to slip away; Kevin was riding really well," Fallon told Racing Post.
Fallon will ride in Japan this winter and next year he will be a freelance rider as Sir Michael Stoute did not retain him as his private jockey.
"I am looking forward to next season. There are plenty of trainers I can ride for, and I hope I can pick up where I left off," Fallon told Racing Post. "When you win something you always want to hold it, and let's hope I am standing here next year."