Racing NSW stewards say there is insufficient evidence to find that jockeys Allan Robinson and Dale Spriggs have breached the rules of racing by giving information about the prospects of their mounts to an online betting account operator.Stewards on Friday gave consideration to evidence heard in a long-running investigation into betting activities on a number of country and provincial meetings between June 20 and August 15, 2008.They said the investigation was commenced upon referral by the Hunt
Racing NSW stewards say there is insufficient evidence to find that jockeys Allan Robinson and Dale Spriggs have breached the rules of racing by giving information about the prospects of their mounts to an online betting account operator.
Stewards on Friday gave consideration to evidence heard in a long-running investigation into betting activities on a number of country and provincial meetings between June 20 and August 15, 2008.
They said the investigation was commenced upon referral by the Hunter and North West Racing Association stewards at the conclusion of an inquiry into the handling of Shyspin in a race at Gunnedah in August last year.
"What was established during the investigation was that the person operating a betting account (not being the account holder or a licensed person) was involved in a series of wagering activities between 20 June 2008 and 15 August 2008 which indicated a distinct bias towards horses ridden by licensed jockeys Allan Robinson and Dale Spriggs, with such offers to wager being at odds well in excess of what was generally available in the betting market for the particular race," stewards said in a statement.
"It was further established from the mobile telephone records of Allan Robinson and Dale Spriggs that during the relevant period there was a sequence of phone contacts between the two licensed jockeys and the account operator.
"Whilst the account operator gave evidence to the stewards by telephone from the office of his legal representative on 4 February 2009, he later declined to cooperate further with the inquiry by providing information requested by the stewards.
"Whilst the stewards were satisfied that a relationship existed between licensed jockeys Allan Robinson and Dale Spriggs and the operator of the betting account, upon consideration of the material before them the stewards found that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that any breach of AR175(i) had occurred, namely that information concerning the prospects of their horses in a race had been given by licensed jockeys Allan Robinson and Dale Spriggs for any monetary or other consideration."