Former professional punter Noah Brash has been banned for 10 years by the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) following his admission of breaching AR 236 regulations, which prohibit betting with or for a jockey.
The charges related to bets placed on behalf of jockey Michael Poy during races in August 2022.
Brash, 29, pleaded guilty earlier this month to five counts of the offence.
The tribunal found that Brash, acting as an intermediary for Poy, placed bets totaling over $172,000 through two Betfair sub-accounts operated by associates known as “bowlers.”
In one instance at Swan Hill on August 7, 2022, Brash received a message reportedly from Poy stating, “Race 3 lay the 1 for 70/80 (thousand).”
Brash followed the instruction, placing a lay bet of $67,890.84 against American Russ, earning $6,366.59.
Additionally, he bet $7,534.10 on Poy’s mount, Mr. Scorefield, to beat American Russ in a head-to-head wager, resulting in an $8,068.44 win.
Other significant bets included a $5,000.26 wager on Bonjour in Race 5, which was unsuccessful, and an $84,572.48 lay bet on Pill Box in Race 8, yielding $12,738.18 in profit.
Delivering the tribunal’s decision, Judge John Bowman highlighted the severity of Brash’s actions, saying,
“The amounts involved were large, the total in excess of $172,000.
Each bet, or group of bets, was placed at the request of a jockey, and a profit was obtained.
This type of behaviour attacks the very essence of our horse racing industry and its integrity.
It can do untold damage. The penalty imposed on you should reflect that.”
Brash’s relationship with Poy dates back to 2018 when they first met, with Brash later volunteering to create speed maps for the jockey free of charge.
These betting activities occurred after their relationship deepened.
Poy and another jockey, Lewis German, were also charged in connection with the case earlier this year.
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