Mobile phones for jockeys?

I think its a good idea to speak to the jock during the race to give instructions?

lol

Top jockey Nikolic faces two phone charges


Australia: Leading jockey Danny Nikolic has been charged by stewards for a pair of mobile phone-related issues after a six-week investigation prompted by Betfair involving ten horses he rode in races in Victoria.

In an inquiry that has astonished Australian racing community, Racing Victoria stewards have laid two charges against Nikolic and one against professional punter and commission agent Neville Clements.


All the charges are in relation to their mobile phones and failure to comply with stewards' directions.

The embattled jockey has vowed to clear his name after being charged with using his mobile telephone during the Flemington race meeting on January 1 for the purpose of contacting Clements without the permission of the stewards.

Jockeys are not allowed to have in their possession or use mobile phones in the jockeys room.

Nikolic, 35,was also charged with failing to comply with a direction made by stewards on Tuesday relating to failing to produce his mobile telephone to stewards for inspection of his 'contacts' list.

Speaking to the Melbourne Herald Sun, Nikolic strenuously denied any wrongdoing. "It's the perception that I've stopped horses - I haven't," he said.

"It's totally unfair - it's ruining my career. As I've said all along, I've done nothing wrong."

Clements, a former bookmaker, has been charged for refusing or failing to comply with an order of the stewards in that on February 12 he failed to provide his complete and original telephone records for the period September 1 last year to January 31this year.

Nikolic and Clements have been called to face separate hearings at Flemington on Thursday next week.

The charges have arisen from stewards inquiries into Nikolic's defeat on the odds-on favourite Finishing Card at Mornington on January 8.

Betting activities on the race have been investigated, especially with Betfair.

The stewards have since broadened their investigation into 10 of Nikolic's rides over a four-month period with all betting activities being looked into in relation to those races.

We could have phoned CC`s Jock and told him to let her run..

I rode with Nikolic in Mauritius a couple of years ago, quite a controversial character. During an inquiry into one of his rides he told the the whole steward board to f*ck off!! He was fired the same day.

Morning Mark so I gather he has a way with words.

Predicted text the way to go

lol

I THINK JOCKS SHOULD SHOULD HAVE HET SETS IN THEIR HELMETS. THEY GET INSTRUCTION WHILE THE RACE UNFOLDS.

SHOULD HAVE GPS FITTED TO TRACK THE HORSES MOVMENTS.

HEART RATE MONITORS PRE IN AND POST RACE OF HORSE JOCK AND TRAINER.

MOTION SENSOR CAMERAS LAST 200M TO MONITOR JOCKEY AND HORSE ACTION

FINALLY A SMALL EXPLOSIVE CHARGE THAN CAN BE ACTIVATED REMOTELY FITTED IN THE SADDLE FOR WHEN JOCKS DONT LISTEN

SHAYNE, ARE YOU WEL MAN........stop shouting

CaPs LoCk NoT WoRkInG cOrReCtLy HoPE tO bE sOrTeD sOoN gEtTiNg dIzZy

I see a problem with this: the starter will have his hands full trying to load, as all jocks will be on the phone to their bookies...

Aussie jockey Nikolic charged in Betfair probe

Australia: Leading jockey Danny Nikolic is fighting to save his career after being charged with nine offences in the long-running investigation into several of his rides.

According to sources in Australia, four of the charges are regarded as more serious breaches as they relate to bets being laid against his rides.

None of the charges in the Betfair-inspired inquiry relate to Nikolic's actual handling of 10 beaten horses which have been the subject of a four-month investigation by stewards in Racing Victoria.

Racing Victoria stewards concluded their investigation two weeks ago.


On Friday they announced the charges against Nikolic, 35, which include two of improper practice and two of conduct prejudicial to the interests of racing.

These potentially career-ending charges came as stewards alleged Nikolic had spoken to punters on his mobile phone who later on laid his horses to lose on Betfair.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Nikolic spoke about the charges to Sky Racing.

"I've been trying to keep as focused as I can," said the rider.

"These are very bad charges to be laid upon you - but I can't really comment now that I've been charged.''

Nikolic was also charged on the lesser count of engaging in improper behaviour and four charges of leaving the jockeys' room during riding commitments without permission of stewards to contact various associates using his mobile phone.

Nikolic maintained his innocence throughout the marathon inquiry which he admitted had been stressful and affected his reputation.

The inquiry began when he was beaten on 3-5 favouriteFinishing Card in a maiden at Mornington on January 8.

During the course of the investigation Nikolic was fined Aus$5000 for refusing to hand over his mobile phone to stewards so that they could check his contacts.

Also during the inquiry family friend Neville Clements, a professional punter and commission agent, was warned off for failing to produce his phone records to stewards.

In recent weeks form analyst Mark Hunter and high-profile owner John O'Neill were among others called to give evidence at the inquiry.

Nikolic's lawyer Paul O'Sullivan told AAP Racing that Nikolic regarded the charges against him as being an "attack on his personal and professional integrity and intends to do all that is necessary to defend himself against such attack".

O'Sullivan added: "It is important to note that Danny has not been charged in relation to the manner in which he rodeany of the horses that were subject of the inquiry."

He said that at this time Nikolic had not been served the evidence on which the stewards relied in bringing the charges.

"However, Danny strongly denies engaging in any conduct that threatens the integrity or welfare of racing in Victoria," O'Sullivan said.

"On receipt of the stewards' evidence, I anticipate that Danny will instruct me to vigorously defend the charges that have been brought against him."

O'Sullivan said Nikolic was appreciative of the support from many people since the start of the inquiry.

Stewards found that, in relation to improper practices and prejudicial conduct, Nikolic "had formed associations with persons and through communications with them lay bets, which were placed on Betfair against a number on his rides between October 2009 and February 13 this year".

Stewards didn't name the associates but described the bets as being "well outside the associates' normal betting patterns".

The improper behaviour charge relates to an outburst Nikolic made to stewards before a night meeting at Moonee Valleyon February 13.

Stewards charged Nikolic with making contact with various associates via his mobile phone last year at Seymour on October 18, Kyneton on October 20, Geelong on October 21 and Flemington on New Year's day this year.

The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board will hear all nine charges against Nikolic on a date to be fixed.

How about a fire extinguisher also..for the horses that come back breathing fire!!

When you know you are being so closely watched why do stupid things like walking outside the jocks room to phone someone !?

EVIDENCE to be given by chief steward Terry Bailey relating to 11 "questionable" rides by jockey Danny Nikolic has been ruled inadmissible.

Victoria's Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board was presented, in the words of its chairman, Judge Russell Lewis, a "circumstantial" case on the opening day of the hearing. For Nikolic it was the beginning of his fight against four career-threatening charges stemming from a lengthy investigation into betting patterns surrounding 21 races.

The board heard from Paul Holdenson, QC, appearing for the stewards, that betting activity from three punters -- Neville Clements, Alessandro Alaimo and Kevin McFarland -- on horses ridden by Nikolic to lose with a betting exchange had followed direct or indirect communication from the jockey.

Nikolic yesterday pleaded guilty to four charges of leaving the jockeys' room to contact associates on his mobile phone without having the permission of stewards and to a further charge of having behaved in an abusive and insulting manner to stewards.

On two charges of improper practices and two more of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing, the most serious charges levelled at the Caulfield Cup-winning jockey, Nikolic pleaded not guilty.

Holdenson explained that the charges evolved from a new phenomenon in Australian racing, the capacity for unlicensed persons to act as bookmakers in laying horses on Betfair's betting exchange.

Holdenson painstakingly listed all of the 11 horses, ridden by Nikolic. They all lost except for one which he laid for the place and it ran second. He stood to lose more than $20,000 on three beaten horses had they won.

He said the stewards' case centred around the communications between Nikolic before each of the races in question with the rider making calls to either Clements or another friend, John O'Neill, part-owner of 2003 Caulfield Cup winner Mummify, which Nikolic rode.

The stewards contend that on numerous occasions O'Neill acted as a go-between, calling Clements after speaking with Nikolic. O'Neill gave evidence to the inquiry, but has not been charged with any breach of the rules of racing. Stewards admitted they did not have all the telephone records in question.

Holdenson said several of the Nikolic mounts laid by Clements were at a far larger volume than any of the other horses he laid or bet on with Betfair over the period from January 2009 to February 2010.

Holdenson also listed three Nikolic rides laid by Alaimo and McFarland. Victorian stewards yesterday charged both with failing to attend the inquiry.

Communication by jockeys on race days to unlicensed persons, who act as "bookmakers", amounted to the contravention of Rule175 (a), which deals with improper practice. Stewards identified 11 of the 21 rides under investigation as having some questionable components.

Holdenson said the betting patterns of the trio on Nikolic's mounts exceeded what was considered to be their normal wagering on Betfair. All the horses lost, Clements laying nine of them for substantial sums.
Clements has been warned off for failing to provide information to the investigation.

The case will continue today.