Baylee Nothdurft admits guilt for betting, but who’s to blame?
EARLIER this week promising Queensland jockey Baylee Nothdurft was suspended for three months after he was charged with placing numerous horse racing bets.
Stewards confirmed that each of the 69 bets placed were at various venues, at infrequent intervals, and were not placed on any race, or race meeting, at which Nothdurft had ridden, and he has admitted guilt to the charges, but that’s not where this matter should rest.
Nothdurft told HorseBetting.com.au that he doesn’t have any problem with his punishment of a three-month ban, but wanted to state that his intentions were not of deceit.
“I only opened the account in April because my license was cancelled for a month as I was changing stables,” Nothdurft said. “That is when more than three quarters of the horse bets were made – none of which when I was riding in a race or at a meeting I was riding at.
“I’d like to inform people that I was not caught betting in the jockeys room, I got caught as QRIC (Queensland Racing Integrity Commission) rang up the UBet company and sent a list of jockeys names to see if they had an account there.”
Nothdurft alluded to HorseBetting.com.au that QRIC asked bookmaker UBet for a list of jockeys that had accounts.
The steward’s report from June 21 stated the following:
“Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards today concluded an inquiry into a report received from UBET, regarding alleged betting activities by Licensed Apprentice Jockey Baylee
Nothdurft.
“Evidence was taken from Apprentice Nothdurft, his Master Mr Lindsay Hatch and Mrs Hatch, into betting activity between April 2017 and June 2017 with a UBET account held in Mr Nothdurft’s name.”
We asked QRIC to explain why an inquiry was launched into the betting activity of Nothdurft and QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett replied.
“The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission’s Integrity regulation Unit carried out an investigation into allegations that Mr Nothdurft, was involved in betting,” Barnett said. “Under Australian Rule 83 a jockey or apprentice may be penalised if they bet or have any interest in a bet on any race.”
Barnett didn’t tell us why the investigation was started and where the allegations stemmed from, but Nothdurft stated that the bets were only small and he shouldn’t be lumped into the same category as James McDonald.
McDonald is currently serving an 18-month ban for betting on his own horse (Astern) in a race at Randwick in 2015.
“The penalty was fair because I did place bets when I was a licensed jockey. The bets were only very little as well,” Nothdurft said.
“I was charged under a different rule than James McDonald. I was charged with 83c which is totally different.”
We asked Nothdurft if any senior rider, apprentice school master or senior official had talked to young apprentices about the dangers of betting on horse racing, but Nothdurft said no such advice was given.
“No, we haven’t had any mentor talk to us about betting before and it hasn’t been mentioned at apprentice school either,” he said.
The steward’s report conducted by A. Reardon, M. Knibbs and N. Boyle stated that when considering the penalty, stewards took into account the effect this could have on the image of racing.
“When considering an appropriate penalty, stewards view breaches of this kind very seriously as it can have a detrimental effect of the image of racing,” the report states.
“Penalties must serve as a general deterrent to illustrate to the entire racing industry that these activities cannot be condoned.”
Nothdurft hasn’t let the suspension get him down and is already planning his big comeback.
“I’m not allowed to ride work, but can do stable work and strapping,” Nothdurft said. “I’m just planning on staying fit so I can come back bigger and better.”
We are current awaiting reply from Racing Queensland about the lack of education in this area for young jockeys*
I find that if a jockey backs a horse he is riding, he’s going to have a go, which is great. If he backs a horse in the same race as he’s riding, then i would be alarmed.