THE
STUPIDEST RACING THING I'VE EVER READ !!!!!!
This
was reported August 17, 2010. For heaven's sake!!!!
A whole $50 bet? What on earth are we turning in to
in this country?
A WINNING $50 bet placed at a TAB
is at the centre of an inquiry that led to Queensland
harness racing's Martin Knibbs being stood down.
The Herald Sun has learnt a staff member at a
TAB outlet in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley sparked the
investigation by alleging Knibbs played a role in placing
a $50 bet on pacer Major Nightmare to win at last Wednesday
night's Gold Coast harness meeting.
Major Nightmare led throughout and paid $4.40 for
the win.
Knibbs, a steward of 25 years' experience, including
stints officiating in thoroughbred racing in Sydney
and Hong Kong, told friends he was devastated by the
accusation, he had not placed the bet and was innocent
of any wrongdoing.
The TAB operator said Knibbs entered the TAB at
the Elephant and Wheelbarrow hotel with two other men
an hour before Major Nightmare's race.
"I knew of Mr Knibbs and recognised him when
he entered the TAB," the operator said.
"I watched as he approached an Iselect (information)
terminal and called up the fourth race at Gold Coast.
"A couple of minutes later, one of the men
placed a $50 bet on Major Nightmare. Mr Knibbs and the
other man had left by then.
"I couldn't actually see who filled out the
(betting) ticket from where I was, but I knew there
was CCTV footage from six different angles."
The operator said he had immediately reported the
bet to TAB head office, Racing Queensland's integrity
department and Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission.
"I watched some CCTV footage from the Elephant
and Wheelbarrow with the technician (on Friday) and
it appeared Mr Knibbs filled out the ticket and left
it on the bench before one of the men with him placed
the bet," he said.
Knibbs was stood down from duties late on Friday.
Racing Queensland director of integrity operations
Jamie Orchard would not comment on any specifics of
the allegations, but stressed that though stewards were
not allowed to bet, there was nothing prohibiting them
entering a TAB.
Knibbs did not return calls yesterday. It is understood
he told friends he stopped at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow
for several beers and as they left for dinner his friend
said he wanted to have $50 on Major Nightmare.
He also has told friends he looked at the TAB monitors,
but did not fill out the ticket.
Knibbs was reportedly stunned by the accusation
and is to challenge vigorously the accusation he had
a bet.
