Australia's 'Zero Tolerance' policy towards gambling by jockeys; Mr Greeley euthanized - By Tom Krish
Posted on - 03 Dec 2010
Tom Krish in Chicago, Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Racing authorities in Australia have a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards gambling by jockeys. You may remember I had mentioned the travails that jockeys Blake Shinn and Peter Robl were going through. Jockey Shinn, a Melbourne Cup-winning rider has been given a 15-month ban. Robl has been slapped with a 15-month suspension. This is a deterrent of a serious nature.
In the past two days, two ‘Down Under’ jockeys have been in the news. Danny Nikolic is a big name in Australia. He has been banned for six months. He will serve two months and if he is found guilty of a similar offense during that period, the punishment period will get longer. Nikolic was fined 10,000 dollars. It was held that Nikolic used offensive and disrespectful language when talking to the stewards and it was also revealed that the stewards felt that Nikolic’s behavior during the investigation left a great deal to be desired.
Lyle Findlay is a jockey based in Queensland. He has admitted to wagering transgressions. He has been suspended for three months and asked to pay a fine of 1,000 dollars.
No matter how many instances come to light, this is a scourge that will not go away. The lure of money is irresistible. The good jockeys are the ones that stay above the fray and they are the ones who make a mark in their chosen avocations.
Mr Greeley has been euthanized. Rebuttal, a son of Mr Greeley, stands in India. Mr Greeley was 18 and was suffering from laminitis. Mr Greeley was a son of Gone West. Long Legged, a Reviewer mare, was Mr Greeley’s dam.
At two, Mr Greeley did enough to attract attention. As a sophomore, he won several stakes. He took third in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Some of the better known children of Mr Greeley are El Corredor, Reel Buddy and Whywhywhy. Finsceal Beo, an Irish 1000 Guineas winner when in the care of Jim Bolger, was by Mr Greeley.
Let us take a look at the Matriarch Stakes run at Hollywood Park last Friday. The Grade I 1600-metre turf race carried a $250,000 purse and was for fillies and mares. Seven distaffers answered the starter’s call.
Gypsy’s Warning, from Graham Motion’s yard, proved the best in the hands of jockey Joel Rosario. The five year-old South Africa-bred mare was fifth, then fourth and was wide and in the clear and ran down the front horses in the lane. The winning margin was a length and a quarter and Gypsy’s Warning clocked 1 34.01 seconds. The tote returned $9.80. Wasted Tears set the pace and kept the runner-up berth. Gypsy’s Warning is by Mogok, a Storm Cat stallion.
Jockey Rosario spoke about the winner’s willingness to respond. “When I asked her, she gave everything. I saw (Wasted Tears) in front and she was going a little quick. I had my mare relaxed and when I said ‘Go,’ she responded.”
It was,however, not the winner who made the news. It was Special Duty, the failed even money favorite, who made the headlines. A dual 1000 Guineas winner, (the English at Newmarket and the French at Longchamp) Special Duty toiled in the rear and finished last. It must be pointed out that the two victories came after disqualifications. It was Special Duty’s debut on American turf.
Rafael Bejarano, Special Duty’s jockey, commented. “She was never in the race. She did not feel comfortable on the turf.”
The Clark Handicap, a Grade I race ($500,000) contested at Churchill Downs last Friday, gave the Kentucky Stewards a headache. There was interference and bumping at the eighth pole. A long inquiry resulted in two disqualifications. The winner was demoted to third. The second horse was given the race. The third place horse was promoted to second. A horse who caused the chain reaction was placed last. A day or two later, there was more fallout. Two jockeys received bans for their roles in the Clark drama.
Demarcation led the 11-horse field in 136th running of the 1800-metre Clark Handicap on the Churchill Downs main course. With 200 metres to run, Demarcation, with Kent Desormeaux, veered in and caused jostling and crowding. Julien Leparoux, riding the 9.5 favorite Successful Dan, had to take up and move outside and in the process, bumped Redding Colliery. Successful Dan won the race, Giant Oak was second and Redding Colliery salvaged third despite the trouble. The race was run in 1 50.82 seconds.
Giant Oak was awarded the race. Redding Colliery was given second and Successful Dan was placed third. Giant Oak paid $24.20.
Jockey Desormeaux received a three-day ban that will run this Thursday thru Saturday. Jockey Leparoux also was suspended for the same three-day span.
Shaun Bridgmohan, Giant Oak’s rider, said, “Julien stopped my momentum. I was moving well and I believe I would have won.”
The Japan Cup (dirt) is coming up this Sunday. On December, Sha Tin at Hong Kong will hold center stage. Four Group I races will be held at Sha Tin. The fields are being assembled.
