Jockey, Terry Houghton waits, still.

[Grits]

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2010/March/02/Former-banned-jockey-Houghton-still-battles-image.aspx-

"Tampa Bay’s decision followed an FBI investigation that would lead to three indictments. Information from the FBI and Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau led Tampa Bay and other tracks to ban the riders.

Tracks that have refused to let Houghton ride have not given a specific reason. Houghton never was charged with a crime or suspended by any racing regulator. His name does not appear a single time in the 34-page indictment filed on May 6, 2009, in a U.S. District Court in Michigan.


"For now, he awaits the Kentucky committee’s August recommendation. Waiting has been a familiar feeling for Houghton over the past several years."


. . . . . . Nothing could be more wrong than what Tampa Bay Downs has done to this man. As stated before, when the dust settles I hope he owns a good size chunk of Tampa, CDI, and Arlington.

A racetrack's customer service means nothing when one can destroy a man's career without cause, explanation, or apology.

[gm10]

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2010/March/02/Former-banned-jockey-Houghton-still-battles-image.aspx-

"Tampa Bay’s decision followed an FBI investigation that would lead to three indictments. Information from the FBI and Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau led Tampa Bay and other tracks to ban the riders.

Tracks that have refused to let Houghton ride have not given a specific reason. Houghton never was charged with a crime or suspended by any racing regulator. His name does not appear a single time in the 34-page indictment filed on May 6, 2009, in a U.S. District Court in Michigan.


"For now, he awaits the Kentucky committee’s August recommendation. Waiting has been a familiar feeling for Houghton over the past several years."


. . . . . . Nothing could be more wrong than what Tampa Bay Downs has done to this man. As stated before, when the dust settles I hope he owns a good size chunk of Tampa, CDI, and Arlington.

A racetrack's customer service means nothing when one can destroy a man's career without cause, explanation, or apology.

The man's been suspended at other tracks before.

[lamboguy]

i am not defending the decision or not, but one thing i can tell you about berube, he don't want nothing fishy going on the track that he runs. if the FBI tells him that a rider is going to be indicted, he is not going to let them ride there. its not like a disgruntled girlf friend called him, it was the FBI

[Grits]

The man's been suspended at other tracks before.

When? And what tracks? Prior to Tampa in December 2006. Not speaking of a 10 day rough riding sit down, I'm speaking of being banned for life?


http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/40455/jockey-td-houghton-collects-4000th-win

http://www.hawthorneracecourse.com/hawthorne_news/index.php?article=meetjockeytdterryhoughton

[gm10]

When? And what tracks? Prior to Tampa in December 2006. Not speaking of a 10 day rough riding sit down, I'm speaking of being banned for life?


http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/40455/jockey-td-houghton-collects-4000th-win

http://www.hawthorneracecourse.com/hawthorne_news/index.php?article=meetjockeytdterryhoughton

I don't know if any jockey has ever been banned for life, but he was under severe scrutiny @ GLD if I remember correctly, and Arlington Park banned him.

[Robert Goren]

My daddy use to say "A dog who runs with wolves takes a chance that he will be mistaken for a wolf."

[Grits]

I don't know if any jockey has ever been banned for life, but he was under severe scrutiny @ GLD if I remember correctly, and Arlington Park banned him.

Arlington, yes, as did all CDI tracks, after the Tampa ban, with the aid of CDI's top cop in the front office, Steve Sexton. A mistake as they did so with no evidence of wrongdoing which is why he is suing Arlington for 10 million. As we know, these sorta things move pretty slow as far as court dates go.

Maybe Berube is the finest thing in race track management, customer service, and all, but something tells me this dude, along with his TRPB buddies fired on this one without evidence. And it seems, Fabian has stated close to such.

Each time I read another story about this unfortunate debacle, I feel for Houghton. A jock with 4000+ wins. Can one imagine being accused of something, you can't defend yourself, you have no recourse, and here you are going on 4 years out. Its simply a shame.

Having spoken of this twice recently, I shouldn't let it bother me, but still, I hold hope for this rider.


Here are links and excerpts:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2007/December/17/Cloud-still-hangs-over-banned-jockeys-one-year-later.aspx

***The Great Lakes Downs race in question also revealed no evidence of wrongdoing given the thing he was riding was something like 0 for 17 and the money came in from some guys in Delaware.

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/indictment-valdes-threw-races-bribed-other-jockeys/

The indictment states the 43-year-old Valdes “and other persons known and unknown” accepted money and other things of value to “use less than their best efforts to win a race.” Valdes is also charged with “attempting to recruit other Thoroughbred horse jockeys to join the conspiracy.”

***(Now, were I sitting in a jury box, those going by the name, Mr/Mrs Other Persons Known And Unknown would call into question my concerns regarding the "proof beyond reasonable doubt" thing.) But, given all of this was bypassed completely, while a career was screwed, what does it matter.


http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/36805/great-lakes-downs-race-key-to-jockey-probe

"Houghton moved his tack to Hawthorne Race Course in February and planned to follow that meet by accepting mounts at Arlington when the spring meet opened May 5, but was told he would be excluded from all tracks owned by CDI, including Arlington. Under Illinois law, licensees who are to be excluded from a racetrack are afforded a right to due process, and a hearing must occur seven days after a notice of appeal has been filed by the plaintiff.

During the Illinois hearing, the TRPB was unable to produce material evidence that expressly implicates Houghton in the fixing of races. Though Houghton voluntarily submitted to a polygraph test that he made available to the TRPB and the FBI, neither organization has made use of that material.

According to TRPB president Frank Fabian, no cell phone records have been secured to connect Houghton with anyone who wagered on the races in question, nor has there been an investigation into Houghton’s bank records to search for unusual deposits.

“I have no information that (Houghton) received money for (holding back) a horse,” Fabian said.

“Do you have any information that he was paid any money to not do the best on a horse?” asked Art Engelland, Houghton’s attorney.

“I do not have that information, no,” Fabian said.

The TRPB also went against the opinion of the Michigan Racing Commission and stewards who reviewed the films of the races in question and found no suspicious activities on Houghton’s part, according to the transcript of the hearing. (It was initially reported here that it was the Minnesota Racing Commission, which was incorrect.)

“The fact that Churchill Downs chose to move against Terry is a slap in the face of every racing commissioner in the country,” Engelland told The Blood-Horse. “Protecting the integrity of racing is the state commission’s job. A racetrack should never move on guesswork. In this TRPB investigation, no one ever talked to the trainers of any horses, never talked to the vets or grooms, never looked at the PPs to see if a race was out of line on a Beyer (speed figure) basis...they’re going on pure speculation and supposition.”

If these guys were doing a thorough investigation, why not check into my bank records and try to find some kind of proof of me accepting money from these guys?” Houghton said in an interview with The Blood-Horse. “I said they can check anything and everything of mine. I’ve got nothing to hide, I’ve done nothing wrong.”

[cj's dad]

I don't know if any jockey has ever been banned for life, but he was under severe scrutiny @ GLD if I remember correctly, and Arlington Park banned him.

Ronnie Franklin - Spectacular Bid's jock ????

Only asking, not 100% sure.

[Stillriledup]

If every rider who did something dishonest got indicted, there would be a lot more indicted jocks walking around in society.