Quote:
Originally Posted by PoloUK6108
Perhaps it's the recent news and such, but I've suddenly become fascinated with the crooked factor of our beloved game. Buzzers, drugs, bribes..I've read a ton of stories online, and I'm wondering what knowledge and tales PA has to offer. In your opinion, just how dirty is it? How tight of circles are these sort of things kept in? If there's another thread like this let me know. Share/Discuss away!
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My friend and colleague, Nick Mordin, was a racing journalist from England. He wrote several handicapping books, one of which is the all-time best selling handicap book in England, "Betting For A Living".
Nick moved the United States back in 1990s. We became quick friends and attended the races in New York every Saturday and most Sundays for an entire year. He taught me a ton of things about racing.
Races for amateur riders are pretty common in England. He had an angle for betting amateur rider races. He said look for the jockey who sits on the horse in the most professional looking manner. He used Jerry Bailey as an example. If you were ever lucky enough to see Bailey sit on his horse while in the paddock or when his horse did the post parade you know what I mean. He sat up straight as a board. He looked great.
So one day at Aqueduct in the middle of winter there was a race for amateur riders. I had never heard of an amateur rider race in NY. And I don't remember seeing one since that one back in the 1990s.
I was very excited to use Nick's tip and observe the jockeys. Nick and I stood in the paddock and he commented on each jockey. One jockey stood out. He had great posture and confidence. He was from Panama, I believe. The odds on his horse were 3-1. That seemed like a good bet.
We bet. Watched the race. And our good postured jockey won easily.
We where standing in line to cash our tickets when the inquiry sign went up. HOLD ALL TICKETS!
So we waited. And we waited. And we waited. Finally, a no-contest was declared because the Panamanian jockey had been racing professionally in Panama! We won our bet, but all bets were voided. DAMN!
Was there cheating involved or was he or his agent ignorant of the rules?