Horse Race Fixed By Ultrasonic Gun
November 03, 1989
An ultrasonic gun inaudible to humans was used to scare and distract racehorses in a betting fraud scheme designed to launder drug profits, a London court heard this week.
The gun, hidden in a pair of binoculars, was used to sabotage a showpiece race at Britain`s Royal Ascot course in June, 1988.
Lawyer Jonathan Goldberg showed the court binoculars in which the lenses had been removed and replaced with two high-frequency transmitting devices.
``This device subjects the passing racehorse to a sudden and terrifying noise which no human being can hear at all,`` he said.
Goldberg said the gun was used to rob jockey Greville Starkey of victory when he was three lengths ahead, the court was told.
Starkey said his horse, Ile de Chypre, veered violently to the left and threw him from the saddle as he headed for a comfortable victory.
