UNDER the magnifying glass, champion jockey Kieren Fallon was dominating the thoughts of punters who turned up at Knavesmire for the September meeting at York Racecourse yesterday.

As Kevin Darley climbed on board Red Bloom, the hot favourite due to have been piloted by Fallon, and rode it to victory in the day's top race - the champion jockey's arrest was still the talk of the stands.

A swarm of media cameras and photographers surrounded the jockeys' plying their trade, while an anxious public mulled over the allegations which have shocked the sport.

Outside the County Stand, racegoers Wendy and Dennis Griffin said allegations of race fixing did concern them.

Mr Griffin said: "Although I don't think this is going to put me off racing, it does make you think."

Not worried in the least were Wheldrake girls Kirsty Southern and Shelley Cranfield who sipped Pimms on the Champagne Lawn.

Kirsty said: "We will still be placing our bets. It doesn't worry us. We are here for a nice day out and as long as we win we will be happy."

York bookmaker Terry Dolan, who has taken bets at meetings for 40 years since retiring as a professional rugby league player, said the allegations did put a doubt in the minds of punters putting their cash on races.

He said: "These kinds of allegations do worry people, and everyone connected with racing. In my opinion, it can give us a bad name. The authorities are trying to run things fairly and squarely and people are bound to get upset if they feel things are not right."

Punters looked on bemused as they became a focus of attention at Knavesmire with journalists and photographers battling to get the views of spectators and jockeys.

Those not subjected to the media glare may have wondered what the fuss was all about as a succession of news trucks, many of which looked as if they had their own personal satellite dishes fitted, rolled on to the racecourse.

David Lewis, of Sherburn-in-Elmet, said he thought the allegations engulfing some of racing's highest profile stars was linked to popular betting exchanges.

"Here I am trying to pick winners and there are people who can put money on horses to lose," he said.

"I don't know all the details but this news amazes me. I don't bet every day but I think there will always be suspicions."

James Brennan, marketing manager at York Racecourse, said it had still been a tremendous day despite the allegations clouding the sport.

"Obviously, as a racecourse we would rather people were here reporting the excitement of the meetings but we understand why that's not the case," he said.

"What the events have shown us is evidence that the industry is committed to working together to make sure horse racing is as clean as it possibly can be. We wouldn't comment on specific cases, but we are committed to the process of assuring integrity and when you see the sweat on the horses and jockeys after a race it is clear that they are doing everything they can to ensure a serious chance to win."

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, September 02, 2004