Former jockey Michael Poy has been handed a 13-year disqualification by Racing Victoria stewards after being found guilty on illegal betting charges.
The charges relate to incidents occurring between December 2022 and July 2023, during which Poy deliberately failed to give his horses the best possible chance of winning.
“Difficult to accept you were only advising Brash what horses to back and get beaten,” Judge Bowman said. “46 times out 46 rides you were right.
“We say paper profit in relation to your case because in essence you’re saying you received no money from him (Brash).
“You say you advised Mr Brash what horses to back and get beaten but the bets… were his and not yours.
“We find this difficult to accept, your messages to Mr Brash not only name the horses to back but also the amount of such bet, whether or not you received in return the correct amount of money may be another matter.”
In addition to being found guilty of intentionally underperforming, Poy was also charged with conduct detrimental to the image and integrity of horse racing.
“The fact remains you wilfully engaged in behaviours that strike at the heart of the racing industry,” Judge Bowman said.
“It’s integrity, both real and perceived, conduct such as yours has the capacity to inflict great damage on the image of racing and public perception… and risks creating in the minds of some people that ‘the game is rigged’.
“This is a possible perception stewards as well as your former jockey colleagues fight hard to combat and destroy.”
The decision follows Poy’s admission of guilt, and he has accepted the penalty issued by the authorities.
This lengthy ban marks a significant fall from grace for Poy, once considered a promising talent in the racing world. Racing Victoria has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the sport’s integrity and ensuring that all participants uphold the highest standards.
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