Corruption enquiry - Aussie jockey charged

Online gambling company red flagged suspicious betting patterns

In Victoria, Australia a gambling corruption case originally flagged for the authorites as suspicious by the Betfair online gambling group , moved into a new phase this week as Racing Victoria officials issued two charges against jockey Danny Nikolic.

The jockey had earlier denied any wrongdoing in an investigation into nine of his mounts since November last year, reports The Australian newspaper.

The jockey and former bookmaker, now a professional punter, together with commission agent Neville Clements were charged under AR175(p) with failing or refusing to comply with any order, direction or requirement of the stewards.

Nikolic refused to produce his mobile telephone for inspection of his contacts list during the ongoing Finishing Card investigation last Tuesday. Clements also failed to provide stewards with his complete and original telephone records for the period dated September 1 last year to January 31.

Nikolic has additionally been charged under AR160B(3) which provides, among other things, that no person shall, without permission of the stewards, bring into, have in his possession, or use any portable telephone within the area of the jockeys' room. This charge arises from an incident on January 1 at 2.25pm, when Nikolic used his mobile phone at Flemington Racecourse to contact Clements without permission of the stewards.

Both men have been asked to attend an inquiry at Racing Victoria's offices next Thursday.

Racing Victoria stewards have reportedly interviewed seven trainers who had engaged Nikolic for rides between November and February.

Online betting exchange Betfair raised concerns about unusual betting patterns in certain accounts.

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