After he admitted to placing a $10,000 bet on a rival horse in an October 2010 race, jockey Damien Oliver faces a steward’s inquiry on Tuesday. After a tumultuous month, this is racing’s opportunity to get on the front foot and make a statement.
Jockeys have been betting illegally on races for decades.
Arguably Australia’s greatest ever rider, the late George Moore, would often retell old stories to the media about bets he placed on rival horses during his career. And his gambling habits didn’t tend to affect his judgement in the saddle.
But today, 41 years after Moore retired, things have changed. Standards are higher and racing is meant to be a cleaner sport. The integrity of racing is of paramount importance for administrators.
Any jockey that bets on a rival horse brings racing into disrepute. The greatest possible conflict of interest available to a rider – without a race actually being fixed – is created.
There is no good reason for well-established, well-paid riders to be betting.
In placing a bet on race favourite and eventual winner Miss Octopussy, Oliver let down all parties. There was no problem with Oliver’s ride on Europa Point in the race in question – he gave the horse its chance. But that is hardly mitigating.
The horse – because we can only presume that Europa Point was trying his best; trainer Lee Freedman – who has supported Oliver throughout his career and gave him the ride on Europa Point; and the owners – who pay for Europa Point’s training fees and enjoy, along with the strapper, the strongest connection with the horse – were all dogged by Oliver’s conflict of interest.
But it doesn’t end there. Punters who bet in the race and on Europa Point would feel cheated just as up-and-coming apprentice riders, who have Oliver as a mentor and role model, were let down by the bet.
And Oliver’s legion of fans, especially those who claimed he was innocent, have every right to feel disappointed.
Such a simple mistake, a human error, is so far-reaching.
But to be fair to Oliver, he’s almost certainly not the only member of the current jockey’s room to have placed bets on rival horses.
Reports indicate that another ten riders face sanctions over bets placed, like Oliver, through third parties.
And only in November 2010, Sydney-based riders Blake Shinn and Peter Robl were suspended for 15 and 12 months respectively, after pleading guilty to a range of betting-related charges.
It’s been difficult time for horse racing. The sport has received plenty of bad publicity during the recent Spring Carnival. The Oliver scandal and its handling by Racing Victoria, trainers treating horses on raceday and race fixing and drug allegations have tainted the sport.
But now is the time to get on the front foot. An example needs to be made.
Jockeys who bet on races make forgivable errors in judgement. But the sport is dragged through the mud.
Damien Oliver will receive a ban for his bet on Miss Octopussy. It needs to be lengthy. It must deter.
It’s up to racing to clean itself up.
Andrew C (waikato)
Guest
"Racing needs to make a statement in Oliver inquiry" - yeah right, some ROAR participants need to make some sort of comments instead of being part of the OLD BOYS NETWORK - hiding behind officialdom makes you turkeys look WEAK
Andrew C (waikato)
Guest
Eight months holiday is a complete joke !! Should've been at least TWO YEARS - one wonders what the reaction of Trainers and ESPECIALLY Owners could be to this ongoing debacle. Are they going to shrug their shoulders and say "c'est la vie" OR are some powerful individuals (like Lloyd Williams) going to demand heads to roll in Racing Victoria ........ for the greater good of racing (and hells bells, I live in NZ !!!)
Andrew C (waikato)
Guest
Well Sheek, your much admired jockey Damien has been treated very leniently and given a 8 month HOLIDAY, so he'll be fit a raring to go for another few BIG riding paydays NEXT SPRING 2013.............. Racing Victoria judiciary has lost any semblance of INTEGRITY and now look like a big bunch of pussies !! - do I wear my Houdini outfit (in Damien's honour) next year when I come over for the Derby/Cup/Oaks week? ....... btw Sheek, good to see you 'fess up for having the temerity to vigorously defend Oliver and now are saying your mea culpas :)
nan
Guest
Well done Justin - we get through the highs of racing eg black caviar bringing crowds to the track and then you have these fools who do stupid things i say give them 3 years and any jockey who does the same. I would rather back a horse with a clean apprentice riding than have it ridden by a jockey that has bet on something else. Damien oliver we all make mistakes you live to repair your reputation so come back and ride like a man possessed.
Oracle
Guest
Damien wouldn't have needed the even $10k he would have won from backing Miss Octopussy. Unfortunately, (Damien has always been one of my fav riders) he has to be given a long holiday.
Matt Simpson
Roar Guru
Well written Justin, it will be interesting to see if they put the foot down or he retires first. Is it known who he put the bet on with?
The Grafter
Guest
Your name and reputation is everything. Im an Oliver fan. Always thought he carried himself well. He handled the spotlight whilst at the top of his profession. It really saddens me, and brings back memories of why Mick Dittman could never get a licence in Hong Kong. Well written, and no argument, he has to be rubbed out.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Justin, I'm a huge fan of Damian Oliver & I simply can't fathom why he would do such a thing. And by all accounts, from the jockey's room, which has CCTV!!! I even managed to verbally contort myself on another post defending Oliver & thought afterwards, "why did I do that?" Well because I have the greatest respect for Oliver, but heck, he did the wrong thing & he has to pay his dues. Perhaps RV feels a bit like me, they have the greatest respect for Oliver & charging him was akin to shooting Bambi. It's a strange world we live in. Sometimes, bad people will do good, just as good people will do bad in a moment of weakness. Whatever the reasons, Oliver must be made an example of. No matter how painful it might be. Lose your integrity & you run the risk of losing everything.
Pillock
Roar Rookie
The key point as you said is that it is highly unlikely that Damien Oliver is the only jockey to have placed bets on rival horses. The fact that more jockeys are not charged says a lot about how seroius racing clubs are about enforcing the rules. From a real world perspective it is a practice that will always be there and the current view that Oliver is the only jockey to do it is an insult to the publics intelligence. Better to police it in a real way. Why not have a register of jockeys bets where they declare bets and they can be read in conjunction with the form guide. That would be interesting.