Fran Ferris
Francis (Fran) Ferris was born in Dublin on April 4, 1981, the son of a garage panel-beater and with no family connection with racing. He came to Britain in 1990 to work for David Evans in Abergavenny. Their relationship was not entirely harmonious and they had at least three fallings out. Eventually, his indentures were transferred to Phil McEntee in Newmarket.
Francis (Fran) Ferris was born in Dublin on April 4, 1981, the son of a garage panel-beater and with no family connection with racing. He came to Britain in 1990 to work for David Evans in Abergavenny. Their relationship was not entirely harmonious and they had at least three fallings out. Eventually, his indentures were transferred to Phil McEntee in Newmarket.
Fran was a promising apprentice, riding a total of 140 winners from 1,783 rides, but his career from 2001 to 2006 was riddled with disciplinary issues. He was the subject of seven disciplinary committee hearings at BHA headquarters in respect of various breaches of the rules of racing and attended four meetings with the licensing committee at various times.
Fran was a promising apprentice, riding a total of 140 winners from 1,783 rides, but his career from 2001 to 2006 was riddled with disciplinary issues. He was the subject of seven disciplinary committee hearings at BHA headquarters in respect of various breaches of the rules of racing and attended four meetings with the licensing committee at various times.
He first made news for the wrong reasons when he struck his mount on three separate occasions before the start of a race at Lingfield in July 2002. In June 2003 he was in the headlines again following a 0-65 handicap at Southwell when dropping his hands on a certain winner and managing to turn a likely ten-length victory into a short-head defeat. He was riding the well-backed 5-1 chance Claptrap, trained by Jamie Osborne, and should have won the race without coming out of second gear. Instead, the jockey took his foot off the throttle and was caught on the line by the fast-finishing Sambaman.
He first made news for the wrong reasons when he struck his mount on three separate occasions before the start of a race at Lingfield in July 2002. In June 2003 he was in the headlines again following a 0-65 handicap at Southwell when dropping his hands on a certain winner and managing to turn a likely ten-length victory into a short-head defeat. He was riding the well-backed 5-1 chance Claptrap, trained by Jamie Osborne, and should have won the race without coming out of second gear. Instead, the jockey took his foot off the throttle and was caught on the line by the fast-finishing Sambaman.
As if to counter the raw embarrassment, over the following few days he was guilty of trying too hard. Twice he was punished for using his whip with excessive force. Over little more than a week during the second half of June, he stockpiled five separate periods of suspension, totalling 32 days.
As if to counter the raw embarrassment, over the following few days he was guilty of trying too hard. Twice he was punished for using his whip with excessive force. Over little more than a week during the second half of June, he stockpiled five separate periods of suspension, totalling 32 days.
The day before he was due to start his suspension he was in trouble with the stewards again, this time for careless riding. He took a holiday in Greece and then spent time at the family home in Dublin pondering over the Southwell incident and its repercussions, finally returning to action at the end of July.
The day before he was due to start his suspension he was in trouble with the stewards again, this time for careless riding. He took a holiday in Greece and then spent time at the family home in Dublin pondering over the Southwell incident and its repercussions, finally returning to action at the end of July.
After a relatively uneventful couple of years, he made news yet again when failing a Breathalyzer at Salisbury in August 2006. Shortly afterwards, he was hit with a 26-day ban, six of which were deferred, under the referral system for whip offences.
After a relatively uneventful couple of years, he made news yet again when failing a Breathalyzer at Salisbury in August 2006. Shortly afterwards, he was hit with a 26-day ban, six of which were deferred, under the referral system for whip offences.
He rode what was to prove his final winner under British Flat racing rules on Auction Oasis for trainer Bryn Palling in a Lingfield two-year-old seller on August 30, 2006. He had his last ride on Feisty, trained by Rae Guest, in a class 5 handicap at Brighton on October 19, 2006, finishing eleventh of the sixteen runners.
He rode what was to prove his final winner under British Flat racing rules on Auction Oasis for trainer Bryn Palling in a Lingfield two-year-old seller on August 30, 2006. He had his last ride on Feisty, trained by Rae Guest, in a class 5 handicap at Brighton on October 19, 2006, finishing eleventh of the sixteen runners.
In April 2007, he was found guilty on five counts of deliberately riding a horse to lose in the knowledge that it was being laid to lose and passing information for reward. He was warned off for five years by the BHA. Racing’s rulers deemed that he was not “a suitable person” to hold a licence.
In April 2007, he was found guilty on five counts of deliberately riding a horse to lose in the knowledge that it was being laid to lose and passing information for reward. He was warned off for five years by the BHA. Racing’s rulers deemed that he was not “a suitable person” to hold a licence.
Then in June of that year, he received a four-month prison sentence and a two-year driving ban after admitting dangerous driving and drinking with excess alcohol, having been stopped by police in Newmarket the previous December. He lost his driving licence again in 2009, this time for three years, due to drink driving.
Then in June of that year, he received a four-month prison sentence and a two-year driving ban after admitting dangerous driving and drinking with excess alcohol, having been stopped by police in Newmarket the previous December. He lost his driving licence again in 2009, this time for three years, due to drink driving.
Having been thrown out of racing in disgrace, in 2010 he reportedly admitted to the ‘News of the World’ that he’d ridden in 200 “fixed” races, though he later pleaded his innocence at a HRA disciplinary hearing in London.
Having been thrown out of racing in disgrace, in 2010 he reportedly admitted to the ‘News of the World’ that he’d ridden in 200 “fixed” races, though he later pleaded his innocence at a HRA disciplinary hearing in London.
In August 2014, two years after his five-year ban had expired, the British Horseracing Authority rejected his application for a Flat jockey's licence. His shocking disciplinary record, even before he was found guilty of stopping seven horses and passing inside information for reward in 2007, no doubt influenced the BHA’s decision.
In August 2014, two years after his five-year ban had expired, the British Horseracing Authority rejected his application for a Flat jockey's licence. His shocking disciplinary record, even before he was found guilty of stopping seven horses and passing inside information for reward in 2007, no doubt influenced the BHA’s decision.
His past meant it was always going to be extremely difficult for him to talk his way back into the saddle. He had had four criminal convictions, one for wounding, a history of alcohol abuse and once told a newspaper that he “would like to burn down the Jockey Club”.
His past meant it was always going to be extremely difficult for him to talk his way back into the saddle. He had had four criminal convictions, one for wounding, a history of alcohol abuse and once told a newspaper that he “would like to burn down the Jockey Club”.
The BHA’s licensing committee noted “a number of positive developments with regard to Mr Ferris’s character”, accepted his evidence as honest and revealed that he had asked for a meeting with security department officials in 2012 at which he shared information relating to his offences. However, the committee concluded that it was “not satisfied that Mr Ferris’s integrity would remain intact if it were challenged again in a racing environment”.
The BHA’s licensing committee noted “a number of positive developments with regard to Mr Ferris’s character”, accepted his evidence as honest and revealed that he had asked for a meeting with security department officials in 2012 at which he shared information relating to his offences. However, the committee concluded that it was “not satisfied that Mr Ferris’s integrity would remain intact if it were challenged again in a racing environment”.