A man has been arrested in Manchester, UK, for allegedly being involved in fixing horse races.
The man, 42, was arrested in Hawkshaw, Bury, by Greater Manchester Police. The arrest follows an investigation by the police and the UK Gambling Commission over the allegations.
The 42-year-old supposedly breached Section 42 of the 2005 Gambling Act, which covers cheating and the process of enabling cheating.
What Does This Mean?
Section 42 of the Act states that cheating at gambling is an offence, whether someone cheats directly or helps another person to cheat. It doesn’t matter if the cheating actually improves their chances of winning or results in a win — it’s still illegal.
This means if found proven to be involved in the cheating, regardless of his intention, the unnamed person could go to prison for up to two years.
Reports say the investigation was months in the making, with reports of strange betting activity prompting it.
As one of the most popular sports in the UK, betting on horse races is fairly common, online and in person.
The UK has many popular horse racing events like Royal Ascot, the Grand National, and the Epsom Derby.
Statistics say that six million people a year in the UK attend horse races, and the betting statistics are even wilder.
Is Horse Race Betting Popular?
Horse racing betting in the UK is extremely popular, even more so than attending the lavish races. It is one of the biggest sports for UK spectators.
Statistics by the UK Gambling Commission state that in the calendar year of 2021 to 2022, betting operators generated £1.18 billion from horse racing, and the statistic only seems to be increasing.
Is Race Fixing Common?
Horse racing is a heavily regulated sport and is regulated by the Horse Racing Authority. Since it involves animals, horses are regularly examined and tested in their ability, where they undergo health tests and the appropriate training to ensure they are ready to race.
With that being said, race fixing is possible, but it is harder because the sport is complex. Unlike other games, you cannot make a horse win or lose the sport. Primarily, whether they win or lose is based on athletic ability, speed, and willingness to run. Additionally, the training a jockey has with the horse is crucial in building a bond of trust between rider and racer. This is not something that can be manipulated easily, highlighting how difficult horse race fixing is.
With that being said, there are ways that fixing can occur. Bribes and performance-enhancing drugs are some theoretical ways that horse races can be fixed. When it comes to betting, it can be fixed by insider knowledge if someone knows that a horse or a jockey is injured.
Whatever the case may be, the industry is hot on the heels of horse fixers and is galloping away to combat it.
