Fallon denied Illinois license

An attempt by trainer Aidan O'Brien to name Kieren Fallon to ride Ace in the Arlington Million and Ivan Denisovich in the Secretariat Stakes on Saturday was stymied when the Illinois Racing Board denied Fallon a license to ride in Illinois as well as denying him access to Arlington Park and any other facility operated by the board.

Fallon, who has been charged in Britain by London police with attempt to defraud bettors through race-fixing, has had his license revoked in that country by the British Jockey's Club's Horseracing Regulatory Authority. He continues to ride in Ireland and France, however, and rode last weekend in Turkey.

Ace has been ridden by Fallon in his last five starts and in 10 of his last 12 outings, while Ivan Denisovich has had Fallon on board in eight of his 10 career starts. With Fallon denied a license to ride in Illinois, the two O'Brien trainees were entered without a rider named, a practice that flies in the face of Illinois's racing rules. O'Brien is expected to name a replacement for Fallon by Thursday.