Jockey banned for betting on own mounts

Bobby El-Issa has been fined and banned from riding for three months (file photo).

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Friday, October 30, 2009 - 7:54 PM

Source: ABC News

Queensland jockey Bobby El-Issa has been fined $500 and suspended from riding for three months for placing bets on horses he was to ride and then lying to stewards about it.

El-Issa was found guilty following an investigation by racing officials into allegations made about the jockey's actions on Tuesday.

Six jockeys, including El-Issa, were travelling from Rockhampton to Yeppoon in a maxi taxi to take part in the Yeppoon races.

During the trip, the taxi stopped at a suburban Rockhampton shopping centre with an adjoining tavern and El-Issa was seen by a steward in the area for an unrelated reason at the tavern's TAB facilities.

Once at Yeppoon racecourse, a search of El-Issa's gear failed to find a betting ticket and he denied having placed a bet.

When stewards asked to search his wallet, the jockey denied having one.

However the tavern manager and security camera footage established El-Issa had placed bets on two horses he was to ride at Yeppoon.

El-Issa was charged under the Australian Rules of Racing with one count of betting on races and three counts of making false statements.

He was fined $500 for betting and was suspended for three months on each false-statements charge, with the suspensions to be served concurrently.