New Zealand’s Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) has announced that David Walker has been banned for seven years after the jockey was found guilty of breaching betting rules.
The charges brought forward by the RIU relate to an incident where Walker placed bets on another horse to beat the horse he was riding in a head-to-head contest and then rode to ensure that his horse was beaten.
The charges were heard by the Juridical Control Authority (JCA), an independent statutory body that was established under the country’s Racing Act.
The JCA ruled that Walker was guilty and, in addition to a seven-year disqualification, was also charged costs of NZ$3,000 (€1,894/$2,439).
Mike Godber, general manager of the RIU, said: “Mr Walker’s actions threatened the very fabric of NZ racing and the strong penalty applied by the JCA panel sends a signal that the industry holds the integrity of racing at the highest priority.
“The message is clear, serious breaches such as this case will have severe consequences for those involved.
“The Walker case serves to illustrate the effectiveness of the RIU’s systems of surveillance of racing and betting and its investigation processes.
“These processes and the penalty imposed will act as a deterrent to anyone contemplating similar actions.”
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
