Melbourne Cup-winning jockey banned after betting on races

[dave nz]

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Blake Shinn and on-track rival Peter Robl have both been banned by NSW Racing stewards following an inquiry into bets placed on thoroughbred races.

Shinn received a 15-month ban while Robl was given a 12-month suspension.

Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy said the offences were serious and their actions raised critical integrity issues for the industry.

He said stewards took into account Shinn’s remorse and contrition before sentencing him but the scale of the bets weighed against him.

Robl’s penalty was broken down into six months for his betting activities and another six months for giving false evidence at the original inquiry in September.

Jockeys are not allowed to bet under the rules of racing.

The admissions follow last week's revelations that the pair had turned over $300,000 when betting into a Tabcorp account.

The account is held in the name of Elaine Robl, who is the wife of the jockey, while Shinn's mother Carol, who is based in Victoria, pumped money into the account at the request of her son.

Elaine Robl and Carol Shinn were fined $7500 each for facilitating the bets.

Blake Shinn, who won the Melbourne Cup on Viewed in 2008, also pleaded guilty to a new charge today issued by Racing NSW stewards of placing calls from the vicinity of the jockeys' room at Hawkesbury on August 19. This is against the rules.

Telephone records also show he placed calls to his partner, fellow jockey Kathy O'Hara, when she was riding at a Goulburn meeting on August 23.

Shinn admitted to having $4000 on a horse O'Hara rode that day but denied the conversation was about betting.

[rhgraham]

If more diligence were done in North America this would be a common occurance.IMO