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Pick Pony | Oct. 21, 2024, 12:46 p.m.
There are various methods to give a horse a quiet run before a significant plunge. A jockey can appear to be fully encouraging the horse to win, but in reality, he may be trying to 'stop' it instead. Even with the increased scrutiny from stewards and all the video and film footage available, jockeys still manage to execute the 'hook'.
Trainers often assist in the manipulation by employing tactics like running horses when they are not fit. These instances, called ‘conditioning’ runs, happen when horses come back from spells. You only have to look at certain horses in the paddock to see that they are not in shape to win, or even place. This is nothing mysterious about this - it is an accepted practice to use a race as a training tool, particularly for stayers coming back from a break.
Jockeys act on the directions from the horse’s trainer or owner. These instructions include strategies and tactics to employ during the race. Unfortunately, the strategy isn’t always focused on winning. A jockey can intentionally steer the horse to lose, a practice known as "hooking."
Thoroughbred horse racing is heavily regulated, and most trainers and jockeys avoid trying to deceive the stewards. The larger the track, the greater the stakes, which leads to stricter oversight against cheating. However, at smaller tracks, it is believd that hooking may be quite common.
The horse might be overly favored, leading them to choose to 'wait for another day.' In this case, the jockey is told to avoid letting the horse perform to its full potential. Alternatively, they could have been unscrupously paid to lose the race.
In a different scenario, a trainer might be discreetly preparing a horse for an upcoming race. After a few conditioning runs, he recognizes the horse is primed to win—but the timing isn’t right. He advises the jockey to ride conservatively and finish well out of the money.
Horse race fixing isn’t a recent phenomenon, and like in other sports, it still happens today.
In 1973, track officials noticed abnormal betting patterns after reviewing their computer records, suggesting a possible bribing-and-betting scheme. These records indicated a pattern of large bets on exacta and trifecta races that consistently omitted certain horses while covering all combinations of others. The subsequent investigation by racetrack officials and the FBI revealed that Errico, a 58-year-old former jockey, was central to a network of bribed jockeys and informed bettors who earned profits by placing high-stakes combination wagers on fixed races. The government’s case against Errico relied mainly on three sources: testimonies from the jockeys he bribed, surveillance of his meetings with bettors, and racetrack records revealing each day’s big winners.
In December 1973, Errico approached 26-year-old jockey Jose Amy, the government’s key witness, in the jockeys’ locker room at Aqueduct racetrack. He proposed paying Amy to keep his horse from winning the trifecta race that day, but Amy declined. Errico made another bribery attempt days later, only to face the same refusal. On March 5, 1974, Errico escalated his efforts, claiming other jockeys had agreed to hold their horses and threatening Amy with “Mafia” revenge if he refused. Fearful, Amy consented to hold his horse and received $1,500 in cash. A couple of weeks later, Amy once again held his horse for another $1,500.
In the early 1970s, Anthony Ciulla, also known as "Big Tony," bribed jockeys in numerous races. He would typically instruct them to slow their horses, preventing them from finishing in the top three, which allowed less favored horses to win and resulted in significant payouts. Ciulla claimed he had acted as a fixer in every state with horse racing, except California.
In a race at Atlantic City, a jockey he had influenced was too obvious about reining in his horse. When questioned about it, Ciulla admitted to his involvement. While he was behind bars, the FBI proposed a deal: if he assisted with an ongoing federal investigation into horse racing, his sentence would be reduced. Ciulla ultimately testified against the jockeys and trainers who had previously fixed races for him before being granted entry into the Witness Protection Program.
In 1907, George Boles served as a commissioner of the Metropolitan Turf Association and was among the most successful bookmakers at New York tracks, including Saratoga. That summer, rival bookmakers noted Boles’s remarkable ability to predict upsets and suspected his collusion with jockeys to influence race outcomes. Amid rising rumors and an investigation suggesting he had bribed jockeys, Boles abruptly retired from both the betting scene and the Metropolitan Turf Association. His retirement effectively ended the inquiry for track authorities, and the potential scandal faded away.
A comical case of race fixing took place in 1933 involving a horse named Cito, who was scheduled to race on August 15. The morning line listed Cito as the strong favorite; however, unusual betting patterns before the race caught the bookmakers' attention, leading them to stop accepting bets once they sensed something was wrong.
As the race began, it quickly became apparent that Cito was the slowest among the competitors. However, the poor riding of the other horses made it evident to everyone present that Cito was intended to win. One horse took such a wide turn that spectators joked its jockey was heading toward Yaddo. Another jockey rode so far off course that he nearly dragged another horse into the grandstand. A reporter remarked that the jockeys seemed to do “everything but get off and wrestle with their steeds.” This dismal performance bolstered rumors of a fixed race. Cito ultimately won by a neck, leading to the immediate suspension of three jockeys involved in the affair.
When evaluating the performances of jockeys, rather than horses, a deeper understanding can be gained by focusing on several key aspects. Analyzing videos of complete races is particularly useful. You can track any horse from the beginning and observe its performance throughout the race. Watching a race one or two times should suffice to either dispel any doubts about a potentially poor ride or reinforce those doubts in your mind.
Observe the beginning of a race closely. A jockey can ruin a horse’s chance of winning right at the start by leaning backwards instead of forwards, which hinders the horse’s jump from the barriers. A slow getaway can cost a horse anywhere from one to six lengths. A skilled jockey will be discreet about this action, ensuring the horse misses the start by just a length or so to be squeezed out of a prominent position early on. Additionally, some horses can be ‘reefed,’ causing them to leap as the gates open, resulting in a loss of ground.
After a slow start, a jockey can attempt to make ground quickly to catch up, which may deplete the horse’s energy, or settle back in the back of the pack, where multiple strategies are available. He can stay there and run into ‘dead ends’ or make a push wide, keeping the horse positioned six or seven deep for over 800 yards. Regardless of fitness, a horse cannot maintain such a strenuous run and would be exhausted once pressure was applied to win.
If a jockey is riding a well-conditioned horse that starts off behind, he still has the opportunity to win, despite possibly losing a length or two at the start. However, he can easily place his horse in a losing situation. For example, he might try to find a blocked avenue. To do this, he should position himself directly behind horses expected to weaken in the last 200-300 yards. By tracking a horse deemed unlikely to win, the jockey places his own horse at a disadvantage as they enter the straight. The lesser-favored horse will likely fall back, hindering the jockey and leaving him with too much ground to cover.
Another strategy involves initiating the final sprint too early. Rather than waiting until the home turn, the jockey urges the horse forward with about 600-700 yards remaining. Typically, he makes his move on a turn, opting for a wider path to compete for the lead as he navigates the final curve. Running hard in this wide position exhausts the horse, draining any remaining energy for the closing yards of the race.
The jockey could steer the horse towards the inside of a packed field, aware that it dislikes being surrounded by other horses and is always reluctant to pass through tight spaces.
A jockey might attempt an inside run that isn’t available. He selects a path between another horse and the running rail and inevitably gets checked doing so. Some jockeys skillfully allow their mounts to brush against the rail, delivering a jolt that disrupts the horse’s stride and balance.
A jockey can push his horse to compete directly for the lead against one or two others. The preferred strategy is to position oneself on the outside of the group, as this demanding racing style can deplete the horse’s energy, leaving it exhausted as they approach home. Additionally, he might accelerate so quickly at the start that it impacts his breathing.
A jockey, presenting himself as a victim of circumstance, might push his mount to the front, even if it’s a horse that needs to be ridden from behind to succeed. Conversely, he may hold back a natural front-runner, keeping it in the field.
This is the whip ride experienced when one is not actually having a whip ride. The jockey creates the illusion of whipping his mount, but in reality, the whip strikes his riding boot or the saddle cloth, not the horse.
The jockey skillfully navigates large fields, letting his horse relax during the early rush before getting settled well at the back. He often claims, 'I had nowhere to go' in the final moments. Meanwhile, the horse enjoys a smooth run, perfectly prepared for a strong performance next time.
This is a crucial aspect of the smother. A jockey has the chance to gain ground on his mount, but he does not take it. As a result, his horse misses an important opportunity to be in a leading position at a key moment in the race.
The cleverest moves, though, in the ‘hooking’ game are the ones that nobody notices. Get yourself deep in the field and pump your arms furiously. Wave the whip around without actually making contact with your horse, and - if necessary drop the whip. There is little the stewards can do about a dropped whip; the rider can simply claim it was an accident. Moreover, you can enhance your strategy by combining one or more of the previously mentioned tricks with the coup d’état.
Jockeys aren't the only ones who can cheat during a race. For example, a trainer might alter equipment that could impede a horse’s performance, such as removing headgear from a horse that tends to drift without it.
Sponging a horse entails inserting a sponge in its nostrils, reducing airflow and lung capacity. This practice sharply contrasts with performance enhancement. The horse becomes so tired from lack of air that they can barely finish the race.
It goes without saying, that certain horses may be impaired by drugs, especially depressants, sedatives, or even heroin. Or a speedy horse might be covertly replaced with a slower one, disguised with bleach and spray paint. Human ingenuity offers countless ways to cheat.