Say it aint so, Damien

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

It doesn't sound moronic to feel bad for the struggles he has gone through. I think we can all be sympathetic to what he has gone through.

But this is real serious. Without integrity, what do we have in this sport? As a bettor, he has committed the ultimate sin in my book. And while I can sympathize with whatever he is or was going through at the time, there is just no excuse for betting another horse in a race you are riding. Reading that he was second choice in said race is even worse.

I know, Hossy. I thought he was riding the 3rd choice but whatever.... I know.

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

This has nothing to do with his personal life, and believe me, he's not the only one to have similar problems. Many other jockeys, much less lucky than him have gone through similar patterns. It is no excuse!

She wasn't head and shoulders above the rest of that field. I'd like to see your research there.

He's a fraud, and this clearly isn't the only bet he's had. Already he has 'blown the trumpet' on two people he classed as friends before the hearing, no doubt in an attempt to be treated well by the stewards (seemingly worked).

He was riding a strongly fancied horse in the race, and as was mentioned, that makes this MUCH worse.

He's committed one of the lowest acts in this industry in my opinion. I couldn't give a toss how much income he stands to lose out on - he's done something very wrong and deserves to be punished.

Eight months is not long enough.

And to set the record straight, his wife and kids left him for good reasons.

I don't have research it's just my opinion. She's a name,no one else was. My opinion. I thought that's what we did here...

I would argue this has a lot to do with his personal life. Maybe he snapped. Maybe (and God help me I hate this expression) it was a cry for help. Maybe it's too hard having massive legal fees on top of everything else and being surrounded by what you see as easy money. Maybe the guy just made a ****ing mistake. Maybe everyone else does it and the one time he did he was caught.

I have no idea.

You're right though. Let's crucify him. Let's completely ruin the mans life and livelihood, let's take someone who is so completely and profoundly depressed and pitifully sorry and push him over the edge.

[NoChanceToDance]

Oh please.

For a guy who would have been earning upwards of $500,000 a year, plus sponsorship and other incentives, and his excuse was he had legal fees to pay (which came to around $40,000).

He's cheated the sport and the public who enjoy it.

What he did is his mistake, no one else.

He was depressed and drinking because of mistakes he made. I have no sympathy in those regards.

Maybe find the whole story before making him out to be a good guy.

[my miss storm cat]

What should his punishment be?

Where was the outrage over Blake Shinn?

Peter Robl?

Didn't they both place many many bets and get a similar suspension?

Didn't Shinn bet on races he rode in?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

What should his punishment be?

He should be forced to watch the NY Jets play tonight, over and over again.

That's much worse than a 10 month ban.

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

He should be forced to watch the NY Jets play tonight, over and over again.

That's much worse than a 10 month ban.

How about offering a slighty lesser punishment? Such as Firing Squad or Lethal Injection? Of course, if you force him to watch that game for 10 minutes or more, he'll be begging for the other 2 punishments

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

He should be forced to watch the NY Jets play tonight, over and over again.

That's much worse than a 10 month ban.

Boom!

Originally Posted by golfer

How about offering a slighty lesser punishment? Such as Firing Squad or Lethal Injection? Of course, if you force him to watch that game for 10 minutes or more, he'll be begging for the other 2 punishments

[my miss storm cat]

Banned Oliver On Verge Of Return To Saddle

http://formguide.cyberhorse.com.au/2...To-Saddle.html

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

What should his punishment be?

Where was the outrage over Blake Shinn?

Peter Robl?

Didn't they both place many many bets and get a similar suspension?

Didn't Shinn bet on races he rode in?

There was outrage over Blake Shinn, but simply not the media attention like there has been with Oliver.

They set a bad precedent with both Shinn and Robl - both of whom shouldn't have been allowed to ride again in my honest opinion, certainly not Blake Shinn.

Can you imagine if they had been caught in the UK, or heaven forbid, Hong Kong - they would all have been taken to prison!

All I'm saying is that Damien has no exucses. Yes, he was depressed, yes, he was drinking, yes he had legal fees to pay but all of this was down to him and because of that I have no sympathy.

The general feeling in the industry here is that he has been let off extremely lightly. So much so, that the case could be brought up again if the powers that be see fit.