October
SeptemberDanger of the protest payout
I am writing in regard to the upheld protest on Saturday August 26 in the Printhouse Carlyon Stakes, where Unanimously, first past the post, was relegated to third following a protest by Craig Newitt on Umgeton, who was promoted from third to second.
With a number of betting agencies now paying "first past the post", I cant help but wonder if jockeys might be encouraged by connections to be first past the post regardless of the means.
I don’t believe this occurred in this instance. (Unanimously veered sharply and suddenly through no fault of rider Steven Arnold.) However, it is conceivable that the situation I describe could occur in races with lesser prizemoney, where greater financial gain could be achieved through betting.
I believe "first past the post" payouts are akin to the unsavoury and dubious practice of backing horses to lose. Both types of betting are being promoted by a number of betting agencies and undoubtedly will have a negative impact on the integrity of racing.
Bacchus Marsh (Vic)