Mountain or molehill: did jockeys bet?

By Ivan Bigg

Oct. 9, 2008

Mountain or molehill? Is the investigation into jockey betting at Assiniboia Downs anything to get really excited about?

I think you’ll agree that if a jockey or jockeys were placing bets on their own horses — even though they’re not supposed to be betting at all — the public wouldn’t be particularly concerned. In fact, that would be a good sign a jockey is trying really hard.

But, if it’s shown jockeys were placing bets on other horses in the same race — oh-oh!

No one is sure what is going on — if anything at all — after the revelations and allegations against an exercise rider at the Downs last week.

Larry Huber, executive director of the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission, said that, as a result of information that was passed on to the commission, it examined computer printouts of bets and asked ticket sellers to recall who made those bets.

Exercise rider Trevor Dove, 37, admitted to placing bets as large as $200. But did he do so on behalf of jockeys?

At a recent hearing, he was suspended for not being forthcoming but then the suspension was stayed until this week to give him another chance to talk.

“He’s got to co-operate. It’s as simple as that,” said racing commission chairman David Miles.

But Dove, who was nursing a bandaged hand fractured when a horse threw its head back, said: “I can’t tell them something I don’t know.”

So it's a stalemate.

My take on the result? Since this appears to be a “molehill” kind of incident, I believe the commission will settle for a strong reiteration of racing rules and move on.

When his hand heals, Dove will be able to get back doing what he does best: getting up at 5 a.m. to exercise as many horses as he can to support a wife and two kids back home in Jamaica.

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FASTEST HORSES RACE THIS WEEKEND: Quarter horses, the fastest horses in the world, vie for big purse money this weekend.

On Saturday, it’s the $15,000 Derby Stakes for three-year-olds. On Sunday, the best two-year-olds take to the track in the $15,000 Futurity Stakes.

It’s fast and furious action! Racing goes Friday, Saturday and Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. when kids get to cavort with goats, pot-belly pigs, finely plumaged roosters and more at the petting farm.

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BIGG’S BEST BET: Go to www.assiniboiadowns.com. Last week, my long shot horse didn’t get an easy lead, as I thought she could, and she finished fourth. I’m out to make amends!