2-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey suspended for chalk plunge on rival horse
 

I know 10 months is a long time, but I don't think the suspension is long enough.

Betting against yourself in a race as a jock? Should be like 10 years, instead of 10 months.

It's pretty bad.

I'd like to hear more information about the circumstances of the race and see a replay of it.

If he stayed out of everyones way and gave the horse he rode every chance -- the suspension at 10 months is fair to harsh.

If he stiffed his horse -- or he tried to tactically influence the race -- make an example of him.

There are no charges relating to his handling of the horse he rode.






can someone move this to international? :D

Regardless of the ride, they should have made an example of him.

I would love to find out how he got caught.

I still maintain that jockeys are among the dumbest group of people on Earth.

There are still jocks banned from Florida over something that was suspected but never proved 8 years ago.

I can't imagine someone believing that they could possibly hide the fact that they had placed and cashed a wager that size and not draw attention to themselves.
He's either completely overcome with greed, or the dumbest person to ever sh.it between 2 shoes.

What bothers me the most are what are the chances this was an isolated incident? I find it hard to believe he decided just the one time to do it.

It's one thing to bet on yourself. But betting against yourself?

The how and why of it all suggests there is something much bigger in play here Can you imagine...the one and only time you go to place a bet on a rival horse, in a race you are riding, you decided $10k would be appropriate, and the money would funnel back through 3 people. The full story is hardly here. Below is from a synopsis of Oliver's testimony at trial

At Tuesday's hearing in Melbourne an emotional Oliver read from a statement in a trembling voice as he told stewards that at the time of the offence in 2010 he was going through serious personal problems and described it as the "worst period of my life".

"I felt despondent and had lost my belief in my ability as a jockey," Oliver said.
He said he had problems with alcohol and had resorted to binge drinking at that time when his wife had left him and taken their three children with her.

"It was a highly stressful time. I feared I would lose my marriage," he said.
He received psychological treatment and had attended drug and alcohol counselling.

He said the bet was a one-off and was made on the spur of the moment.

"It was the only time I had ever placed a bet on a rival horse," he said.

"I didn't consult any other jockey or trainer."

Oliver placed the bet on Miss Octopussy, the winner of a race at Moonee Valley in which the jockey rode sixth placed Europa Point.

Approximately $11,000 was passed on to him in cash by trainer Robert Smerdon who received the money from Hunter.

Oliver's lawyer Robert Richter. QC, told stewards his client had an illustrious career and had been a significant contributor to the racing industry.
"He is an exemplary man in the industry and this breach was totally out of character," he said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/c...#ixzz2DY17DgZu