Jockey Damien Oliver Admits Illegal Betting

Damien Oliver, the acclaimed jockey, has signed a statement admitting he placed a $10,000 bet on a rival in a race in 2010.

Oliver admitted to using a mobile phone in the jockeys’ room to place the bet before the race.

It looks as though Oliver is facing at least a year’s ban from racing, a time period long enough to prevent him from resuming his career afterwards. Oliver has previously won two Melbourne Cups and had a film made about him.

This fall from grace is another tragedy in a long line of upsets for the jockey. His father died in a race fall at Kalgoorlie when he was just three years old.

Tragically his brother met the same fate at a trial at Belong in 2002, it was Oliver’s ride to win the Melbourne Cup the day after the funeral that made him a household name and inspired the film.

Both of the charges against Oliver revolve around a $10,000 bet he made on the horse Miss Octopussy who started favourite and won the race with a return of $2.30.

Oliver was riding second favourite Europe Point, there are no charges relating to his handling of the horse.