australian-racing-0719
Smerdon charged over Oliver bet.
CAULFIELD trainer Robert Smerdon has been charged by Racing Victoria stewards for handing over $10,000 to banned jockey Damien Oliver after the champion rider placed an illegal winning bet.
The Victorian Racing Appeal and Disciplinary Board will hear the charge at a date to be fixed.
Smerdon has denied having any knowledge of why Oliver was to receive the money, saying he was the middle man asked by commission agent Mark Hunter to give the money to Oliver.
The Oliver betting scandal rocked the spring carnival after the top jockey pleaded guilty to having a bet on a rival horse in a race at Moonee Valley in October, 2010.
He was disqualified from riding for 10 months after he admitted to placing a $10,000 bet.
Stewards charged Smerdon under Australian Rule of Racing AR 175.
The rule reads that "Any person bound by these rules who either within a racecourse or elsewhere in the opinion of the committee of any club or the stewards has been guilty of conduct prejudicial to the image, or interests, or welfare of racing may be penalised".
"I was asked to pass something on to Damien Oliver by a mate, Mark Hunter, and I did. That's what I told them," Smerdon told News Limited earlier this month.
One of the particulars of the charge states, "You did not, at any relevant time, ask Mr Hunter or Mr Oliver, or take any step to determine, the reason or purpose for the payment from Mr Hunter to Mr Oliver."
Superracing
9 Comments | 1 decade ago
Recent Comments
Rodent 20 Dec | Posts: 6914
I wouldn't bet but my wife probably would...
thefalcon 20 Dec | Posts: 20203
"dwindling"....."fiddling" more likely getting trustworthy low key contacts to place the bets. i consider myself a decent and honest guy but if i were a jock i KNOW i would have a bet if i thought my mount was a fair thing. would you? come on boys, 'fess up....
RIO 20 Dec | Posts: 14798
they all bet and they all know they are not allowed...they know now if they get caught they will be suspended for a long period of time.. let�s see if they all bet in future..I have a feeling the numbers that bet, may be dwindling as we speak...
TheDiva 20 Dec | Posts: 11782
he was caught red handed Rex....there was no denying it.
Rex 20 Dec | Posts: 381
OK, he's has had a bet. If they charged every jockey that had a bet there would be no one riding. I don't reckon any jockey has never had a bet but if I are wrong please name them. At least he was honest enough not to lie and say that he didn't.
RIO 20 Dec | Posts: 14798
yep certainly can Rot8in...so what they need to do is convict them of what is plainly obvious...they can do that....and it sends a very powerful message to these people that they are not above the law..A slap on the wrist is a good way to start...And I see thi...
rot8in 20 Dec | Posts: 1808
what a load of sh*t...Blind Freddy can see more to this
Paulo8 20 Dec | Posts: 242
It's certainly not a defence, that's for sure.
Paulo8 20 Dec | Posts: 242
'One of the particulars of the charge states, "You did not, at any relevant time, ask Mr Hunter or Mr Oliver, or take any step to determine, the reason or purpose for the payment from Mr Hunter to Mr Oliver." For crying out loud, Smerdon is either completel...