Australian Jockeys Fined $1K For Betting On Thoroughbred Races

A routine audit of corporate bookmaker accounts by Racing Victoria last year resulted in fines being imposed on three Victorian riders on Tuesday, as jockeys around Australia were "again reminded of the pitfalls of wagering on thoroughbred races in the wake of the Damien Oliver scandal," according to Michael Sharkie of THE AGE. A handful of bets placed by jockeys Michelle Payne, Anthony Darmanin and Michael Walker on races in which they were not riding breached Australian Rule of Racing 83C, which prohibits jockeys from "betting on or facilitating bets in any thoroughbred races." Each jockey was fined A$1,000 ($1,035) by Racing Victoria stewards. Payne's wagers involved three racing and sports multi-bets placed with Sportsbet in '11, including two involving So You Think to win the Tatts Cup in Ireland, for bets totaling A$450. Darmanin's wagers "were jockeys-challenge bet types, including one placed on Ian Toward at a Townsville meeting" (THE AGE, 2/20).