Gavin Faulkner
Born in Ireland in 1976, Flat jockey Gavin Faulkner was a successful apprentice when based in Britain in the late 1990s, registering a career-best 28 winners in 1998. He lost his claim in 2000 but still managed to score 20 times that season. Thereafter, however, his career took a downward trajectory.
Born in Ireland in 1976, Flat jockey Gavin Faulkner was a successful apprentice when based in Britain in the late 1990s, registering a career-best 28 winners in 1998. He lost his claim in 2000 but still managed to score 20 times that season. Thereafter, however, his career took a downward trajectory.
In May 2003 he was suspended for two months for bringing racing into disrepute. He admitted passing privileged information in return for bets being placed on his behalf and arranging the purchase and training of a horse which would be dishonestly set up for a coup.
In May 2003 he was suspended for two months for bringing racing into disrepute. He admitted passing privileged information in return for bets being placed on his behalf and arranging the purchase and training of a horse which would be dishonestly set up for a coup.
He had one of his last rides in Britain on the Pat Haslam-trained Dalida, finishing tenth of 18 in a Carlisle handicap on July 29, 2004. He left Britain suddenly in February 2005 to work in the United States, just a few days before his Middleham home was raided by police involved in the race-fixing case.
He had one of his last rides in Britain on the Pat Haslam-trained Dalida, finishing tenth of 18 in a Carlisle handicap on July 29, 2004. He left Britain suddenly in February 2005 to work in the United States, just a few days before his Middleham home was raided by police involved in the race-fixing case.
Gavin rode in America from 2005 to the end of 2009, his last win coming on Social Charmer at Turfway Park, Kentucky, on February 25, 2009.
Gavin rode in America from 2005 to the end of 2009, his last win coming on Social Charmer at Turfway Park, Kentucky, on February 25, 2009.
He subsequently returned to Ireland and attempted to resurrect his career. He rode there in 2014 and 2015 but his mounts were nearly all longshot no-hopers and he never looked like riding a winner. His last rides were at the Curragh on August 22, 2015, finishing last of nine on 100-1 shot Iyiyiangel in the Group 3 Curragh Stakes and towards the rear on 66-1 outsider Minminwin in a big field of maidens.
He subsequently returned to Ireland and attempted to resurrect his career. He rode there in 2014 and 2015 but his mounts were nearly all longshot no-hopers and he never looked like riding a winner. His last rides were at the Curragh on August 22, 2015, finishing last of nine on 100-1 shot Iyiyiangel in the Group 3 Curragh Stakes and towards the rear on 66-1 outsider Minminwin in a big field of maidens.
In March 2016 he was banned for two years by the Turf Club after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine at that same Curragh meeting.
In March 2016 he was banned for two years by the Turf Club after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine at that same Curragh meeting.
In October 2017 he was banned from driving for 16 months and fined £350 for driving with excess alcohol on his breath on September 11 that year. He also admitted driving without having insurance or a vehicle test certificate, for which offence he was fined £150 and given a concurrent 12-month ban.
In October 2017 he was banned from driving for 16 months and fined £350 for driving with excess alcohol on his breath on September 11 that year. He also admitted driving without having insurance or a vehicle test certificate, for which offence he was fined £150 and given a concurrent 12-month ban.