In an Australian first, a Northern Territory greyhound trainer has been found guilty of betting against himself in a race.
On May 13 this year, trainer Steel Bolton from Howard Springs bet against Bolo, the favourite to win the Coolalinga Mowers Dash at Winnellie Park, a dog he had trained.
Instead, he placed bets on another dog he had trained, Nak Factor, an outsider with odds of 20 to one, which ended up winning the race.
After the race, NT greyhound stewards enquired into Bolton's betting history and noted that a potential breach of the Greyhound Australasia Rules had happened.
The matter was referred to the NT Racing Commission, who decided to hold an inquiry into the matter on August 11.
The NT Racing Commission found that Mr Bolton had indeed breached the Greyhounds Australasia Rule R87, "betting to lose".
The Commission said no other greyhound jurisdiction had ever laid a charge of this nature before.
"The favourite in the Coolalinga Mowers Dash, which was trained by Mr Bolton, lost the race, with the winner being another greyhound trained by Mr Bolton," the NT Racing Commission said.
"Stewards noted that a potential breach of the Greyhound Australasia Rules had occurred, as Mr Bolton had bet against his runner by virtue of his wager for the field to beat the favourite," the Commission said.
He pleaded guilty of betting against his own greyhound and was fined $3,925.
In handing down its decision, the Commission noted Mr Bolton was "remorseful for his actions", his time in the industry, his admission of guilt, the need for the penalty to serve as a deterrent to others and that the integrity of the race was not in question.
