Darren Egan
During his first full season with a licence in 2012, Darren Egan recorded 47 wins, his mounts earning £316,766 in prize money. He rode winners at high-profile venues such as the Dante meeting at York. The Racing Post labelled him “apprentice-of-the-moment”.
During his first full season with a licence in 2012, Darren Egan recorded 47 wins, his mounts earning £316,766 in prize money. He rode winners at high-profile venues such as the Dante meeting at York. The Racing Post labelled him “apprentice-of-the-moment”.
He was looking all set to be crowned champion apprentice for the season until suffering a broken collarbone when the Ron Harris-trained colt Juarla took a fatal fall in the closing stages of a race at Wolverhampton on 19 October. Darren had won twice on him in August that year, at Bath and Chepstow.
He was looking all set to be crowned champion apprentice for the season until suffering a broken collarbone when the Ron Harris-trained colt Juarla took a fatal fall in the closing stages of a race at Wolverhampton on 19 October. Darren had won twice on him in August that year, at Bath and Chepstow.
After sitting out the winter, Darren returned in the spring of 2013 and, as a 3lb claimer, scored a notable victory in the Lincoln Handicap – the first major handicap of the season – aboard 20-1 shot Levitate for trainer John Quinn.
After sitting out the winter, Darren returned in the spring of 2013 and, as a 3lb claimer, scored a notable victory in the Lincoln Handicap – the first major handicap of the season – aboard 20-1 shot Levitate for trainer John Quinn.
Darren was in peak form in July 2013, winning an Ascot nursery on Sartorialist for trainer Stan Moore, and recording two doubles within five days, at Newmarket on Midnight Flower for David Simcock and Cincinnati Kid for Stuart Williams, and at Yarmouth on Bosham for William Jarvis and Beacon Lady for William Knight.
Darren was in peak form in July 2013, winning an Ascot nursery on Sartorialist for trainer Stan Moore, and recording two doubles within five days, at Newmarket on Midnight Flower for David Simcock and Cincinnati Kid for Stuart Williams, and at Yarmouth on Bosham for William Jarvis and Beacon Lady for William Knight.
However, the following month, it emerged that he was under investigation by the British Horseracing Authority. At the time, he was in the process of transferring his licence from Ron Harris to Newmarket trainer John Butler, and the BHA briefly refused him his licence mid-process. Though they reissued his licence weeks later, the damage had been done.
However, the following month, it emerged that he was under investigation by the British Horseracing Authority. At the time, he was in the process of transferring his licence from Ron Harris to Newmarket trainer John Butler, and the BHA briefly refused him his licence mid-process. Though they reissued his licence weeks later, the damage had been done.
He had ridden what turned out to be his last winner on Exclusive Waters for trainer William Knight in a class 6 mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Lingfield on 17 August 2013. He had his final ride when finishing seventh of eight on the David Evans-trained Kitty Brown in a two-year-old seller at Southwell on 30 October 2013.
He had ridden what turned out to be his last winner on Exclusive Waters for trainer William Knight in a class 6 mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Lingfield on 17 August 2013. He had his final ride when finishing seventh of eight on the David Evans-trained Kitty Brown in a two-year-old seller at Southwell on 30 October 2013.
That winter, with the mounts having dried up – a consequence of the BHA’s investigation casting a shadow over his reputation – he returned to his native Ireland to work at a stud farm. The following year, he moved to Santa Anita in California, where he found work as an exercise rider.
That winter, with the mounts having dried up – a consequence of the BHA’s investigation casting a shadow over his reputation – he returned to his native Ireland to work at a stud farm. The following year, he moved to Santa Anita in California, where he found work as an exercise rider.
He watched from afar the fallout from the BHA’s investigation, which concluded with a hearing on 23 November 2015. He was unable to attend the hearing in person due to issues with his visa which would have prevented him from immediately returning to America, jeopardizing his job there.
He watched from afar the fallout from the BHA’s investigation, which concluded with a hearing on 23 November 2015. He was unable to attend the hearing in person due to issues with his visa which would have prevented him from immediately returning to America, jeopardizing his job there.
The BHA found him guilty of stopping two horses in 2013: Imperial Spirit on July 12 at Chepstow and Tregereth on July 16 at Bath. He was also found guilty of passing on inside information to gambler Philip Langford, who the BHA said used the information “corruptly” for betting.
The BHA found him guilty of stopping two horses in 2013: Imperial Spirit on July 12 at Chepstow and Tregereth on July 16 at Bath. He was also found guilty of passing on inside information to gambler Philip Langford, who the BHA said used the information “corruptly” for betting.
In February 2016, the BHA banned Darren Egan, then aged 24, from race-riding for 12 years. The Authority said he was involved in “a conspiracy which struck at the heart of the sport”.
In February 2016, the BHA banned Darren Egan, then aged 24, from race-riding for 12 years. The Authority said he was involved in “a conspiracy which struck at the heart of the sport”.
Having lost his licence in California, he was offered a job by former British trainer Michael Dickinson at his newly re-established training centre in Maryland.
Having lost his licence in California, he was offered a job by former British trainer Michael Dickinson at his newly re-established training centre in Maryland.
Reflecting on the situation, he said: “What I’ve learned in the past three years, life lessons, work lessons, I wouldn’t have learned in 20 years as a jockey.
Reflecting on the situation, he said: “What I’ve learned in the past three years, life lessons, work lessons, I wouldn’t have learned in 20 years as a jockey.
“These are the things you come up against in life. I don’t consider it as bad, necessarily. Instead of what I’ve lost, I look at what I’ve gained. And I hope to eventually get back in the saddle, if only to prove to myself that I’m still a jockey. That’s all I’ve wanted to do.”
“These are the things you come up against in life. I don’t consider it as bad, necessarily. Instead of what I’ve lost, I look at what I’ve gained. And I hope to eventually get back in the saddle, if only to prove to myself that I’m still a jockey. That’s all I’ve wanted to do.”