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Bookie Forgets Bet, Threatens to Kill Horse

Gambler panicked, tried to keep thoroughbred from race

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 5, 2010 12:22 PM CST
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(Newser) – A UK bookie was convicted yesterday of threatening to kill one of the world’s top racing horses in a desperate attempt to make up for a bet he’d forgotten to place for his high roller clients. Self-professed gambling addict Andrew Rodgerson’s job was to place bets for racing insiders who couldn’t be caught placing their own wagers, the Independent explains. When he missed a bet, he realized he'd be on the hook for roughly $88,000 if Conduit, a top horse, won an upcoming race.

Rodgerson panicked and sent the horse’s owners an anonymous text message, threatening to kill the flat-racer if it ran. He then sent an email claiming he’d overheard men plotting to kill the horse in a bar. But the ruse failed. Rodgerson was arrested two days before the race, and eventually confessed. He was sentenced to 240 hours of unpaid work, and to make matters worse, still owes the $88,000—because Conduit won the race.

British entry Conduit, with jockey Ryan Moore aboard, works out Friday morning Nov. 27, 2009 at Tokyo Racecopurse, outskirts of Tokyo.
British entry Conduit, with jockey Ryan Moore aboard, works out Friday morning Nov. 27, 2009 at Tokyo Racecopurse, outskirts of Tokyo.   (AP Photo/Takeshi Nakanishi)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Jeebus
Jan 5, 2010 9:41 AM CST
He should consider himself lucky he wasn't placing those bets for the mob.
RobN
Jan 5, 2010 6:33 AM CST
And why wouldn't you plea bargain this away to get this guy to spill his guts on what racing insiders were placing illegal bets? That's certainly a bigger issue than a guy who makes an empty threat against a horse he has no access to.
passinthru
Jan 5, 2010 6:28 AM CST
What a douchebag.

 
gambling • horse racing • bookies

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