While betting on horse racing has never been more popular, allegations of suspicious betting patterns and bets occasionally arise, which ultimately raise questions about whether certain races are fixed.
In any sport and indeed most walks of life, there will always be unscrupulous people and cheats. However, it’s safe to say that regulations are in place by racing’s governing bodies to ensure that cheating does not occur and, if it does, that those responsible are dealt with swiftly and severely.
Find out more about race fixing today:
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Does Cheating in Horse Racing Exist?
There have been proven instances of cheating in horse racing, as in any sport.
Thankfully, these instances of race-fixing are few and far between, and if it is proven, the punishments for trainers, jockeys or owners are very severe to act as a strong deterrent; these range from:
- Ban the jockey
- Ban for the horse
- Ban for the trainer
- Fine for the jockey
- Fine for the trainer
The fear of a horse race being fixed is something punters are wary of; the last thing a horse racing fan wants to do is place a bet on a race that already has a predetermined outcome.
All races are reviewed by on course stewards and above that, the main regulatory board – either the BHA or IHA in Britin and Ireland – if they see anything suspicious the relevant persons are called in immediately and action taken.
Thankfully, these cases are either rare or handled and remedied immediately.
What is a Fixed Race?
As you might imagine, a horse race considered ‘a fix’ is one where there are plans in place to ensure a specific jockey and horse win or deliberately lose.
A person, or persons, will attempt to fix a race, usually to gain financially from the scenario, more often than not through either backing horses to win or laying horses to lose. Frequently, strange betting patterns or odd patterns will happen around a fixed race.
A fixed race is one in which a person takes steps to ensure the result is unfair and unexpected. It is, crucially, a form of corruption and is illegal.
How Are Races Fixed?
A horse is generally thought to be fixed by the following methods:
- A jockey does not ride a horse on its merit to finish as close as possible – in this instance, a jockey, owners, trainer or persons bet on this horse to be beaten. With the advent of betting exchanges like Spreadex, this has become a growing concern in recent times.
- A horse can sometimes be drugged to underperform or be administered performance-enhancing drugs to make it perform better.
How Is Racing Fixing Monitored?
The ways British racing is monitored are by the following actions:
- All races are reviewed and watched by a panel of stewards live at every racecourse. If anything suspicious, in terms of a ride or behaviour, is noticed, a jockey will be called immediately to the stewards’ room to explain. If they are not satisfied, they can refer the matter to the central regulatory board for further investigation at a later date.
- If a horse runs better or worse than expected, the jockey and trainer will be called into the stewards’ room to explain. Again, this can be pursued further by the central authorities.
- Any horse can be inspected on a course, and samples can be taken to check for the presence of drugs or banned substances.
- If suspicious betting patterns have been noticed, the trainer and jockeys can be questioned again. If this has happened off course, a more extended investigation into corruption is likely to be carried out.
- Out of racing checks, including stable visits, are being carried out to administer drug tests to specific horses.
How Common Are Fixed Horse Races?
Thankfully, the risk of a race fix is sporadic.
Therefore, it is safe to assume that jockeys are, in the main, unlikely to force their horses to pull up and not try.
It is proven that fixing can ruin careers and livelihoods, and for that reason, it is unlikely many high-profile jockeys and trainers of racehorses will want to put so much on the line. It’s safe to say the majority of people who train horses do so to win, and to win pretty, meaning that the sport rarely falls into a level of disrepute.
Can Owners Bet On Their Horse?
Yes. It is not only possible for a horse owner to bet on their steed, but it is also fully legal in the UK.
However, the grey areas start to emerge when you consider betting against yourself, too. The BHA advises it is against the rules to lay your horse. This means betting against it on an exchange. Lying is a common practice in corrupt sports, making it easier to clamp down on.
Summary of Race Fixing
There are many legitimate reasons why many punters worry about races and fixes. Ultimately, whether you win or lose a bet, you want to feel that this is a fair fight.
However, as stated, these cases are sporadic. Thanks to intervention and policing by the BHA, it is now harder for jockeys and owners to get away with anything.
Therefore, you can safely go ahead and continue to bet on horse racing. The game is as reputable as ever, and with more and more invested in regulating and keeping the sport fair, there are no clear reasons why you should fear fixing in the years to come.
