Do you think it's ok for a jockey to back his main rival in a race in the festival?? I know the obvious answer is no but to safe guard income etc just something I heard yesterday prior to racing and got me thinking.. No jockey would obviously turn down a festival winner and if the perceive a danger and the better horse wins on the day etc etc..
As long as it is backing horses to win (because they actually think the particular horse will win) then I think it's OK. It's when they start laying their own mounts that it gets very dodgy
Agree, at least if they back to win the punters would be getting full effort from the horse but the other way's leaves all sort of permutations for punters handicappers etc etc.
This is lifted from the BHA Rules of Racing: 53. Betting and betting contacts: professional riders 53.1 This Rule applies to Professional Riders only. 53.2 A Professional Rider must not 53.2.1 bet or lay a horse to lose any race with a Betting Organisation, 53.2.2 instruct another Person to do so, or 53.2.3 receive the whole or part of any proceeds of such a bet or lay. 53.3 A Professional Rider must not 53.3.1 associate on Racecourse Property with a Betting Organisation (or its representative), or 53.3.2 communicate directly or indirectly from such property with such an organisation (or its representative). 53.4 Paragraph 53.3 does not apply to any association or communication by the Professional Rider with the organisation (or representative) which 53.4.1 is part of the normal running of a race meeting (such as prize-giving and meeting sponsors), 53.4.2 is made with the owner of a horse for whom the Professional Rider is declared to ride, or 53.4.3 is expressly contemplated by Schedule (A)5 (information regarded as in the public domain). 53.5 A Professional Rider must not be present in the betting ring during a race meeting unless he can satisfy the Authority or the Stewards that he had good reason to be there.
Amateur riders are not allowed to place a bet/have other people place a bet for him on a race in which he is riding.
I don't see a problem with jockeys backing there own mounts. Though the problem is were do we draw the line? I suppose it's best to just ban all gambling from jockeys, just to be on the safe side. Even if a jockey does get a festival winner, what is that? 10% of the prize money, that is peanuts in alot of races, I'm sure they'd much rather of had a grand on the winner
Jockeys get 6%, the same as the trainer, plus their riding fee (about £125 for Flat and £140 for jump).
You can't have this thread without the famous quote of Mrs 'Scobie' Breasley who when her husband was asked by a leading Jockey Club member before racing if he fancied his horse (he trained) enough to back it interjected " No Scobie hasn't had a bet since he gave up riding". When Peter O'Sullevan retired Joe Mercer said he was a really good bloke as he'd often put your bets on for you so you wouldn't get into trouble. Of course it's wrong to bet on a horse in a race if you are a jockey. You should be struck off if you bet against yourself. If you bet on your own mount you should be fined.
