CONTROVERSIAL bookmaker Tom Waterhouse encouraged punters on his own website to back More Joyous in the recent All Aged Stakes, despite privately telling friends a day earlier he didn't like the horse's chances.
PHIL ROTHFIELD reports that a SUNDAY TELEGRAPH investigation into the explosive race inquiry reveals punters across Australia, oblivious to the super mare's pre-race health issues, lost a staggering $4 million on the horse.
On April 26, the day before the race, Waterhouse wrote in encouraging terms about the chances of his mother - Gai Waterhouse's - horse.
The previous afternoon, on Anzac Day, he told rugby league immortal Andrew Johns that More Joyous was one of three horses he didn't fancy on the final day of the Randwick carnival.
But on his website - tomwaterhouse.com.au - the young bookie wrote the following:
"More Joyous is undefeated over 1400m and has lost only once in seven runs at Randwick.
"Although she meets smart three-year-olds All Too Hard and Epaulette, (More Joyous) deserves to run favourite in the All Aged Stakes."
Waterhouse declined to comment yesterday about the latest revelations that he gave his clients different information to Johns a day apart.
"We're not passing any comment on the inquiry," said Warren Hebard, the bookmaker's marketing and communications manager.
THE SCANDAL
GAI Waterhouse emerged from the opening day of the inquiry with her reputation unspoiled.
However, the inquiry heard evidence that Waterhouse may have broken the rules of racing by not reporting More Joyous had been under treatment.
Punters were kept in the dark and blew $4 million as a result.
If Waterhouse had told stewards, this blow-up would not have occurred.
The mare had heat in the neck and a low white-cell blood count. She was being treated with antibiotics, couldn't bend her neck and wasn't eating food in the days leading up to the race.
The rules of racing state the following has to be reported:
ANY systemic illness that has adversely impacted on a horse's health or wellbeing, or that may have resulted in an interrupted preparation, for example, colic attack, any illness causing loss of appetite;
THE trainer of a horse that is included in the final acceptors for a race must ensure that such horse is fit and properly conditioned to race, and shall report to the stewards as soon as practicable any condition or occurrence that may affect its running in the race.
There was even no record kept of the horse being treated with drugs, let alone stewards not knowing.Owner John Singleton was able to save his money, $100,000, when his own veterinarian Dr John Peatfield advised him against backing the mare.
"Gai owes an apology to every punter that backed More Joyous," punter and brothel owner Eddie Hayson said.
THE BETTING
INVESTIGATORS have found punters invested about $4 million on More Joyous not knowing of the mare's health issues.
Some of the bets were placed as early as Wednesday while the horse was already secretly being treated.Betting records reveal $2.5 million was invested on win and place bets, and $1.5 million on exotics, including trifectas, quinellas and quaddies.
These figures are from TAB, totes in other states and corporate bookmakers across the country.
Lots of recreational $2 and $5 punters blew their money while Singleton was the only one who saved his cash.
"Punters are the heartbeat of the industry," said one senior official. "Without them, we don't have racing."
The inquiry last Monday heard both Robbie and Tom Waterhouse lost on the race, only because both had laid All Too Hard, which won.
THE BROTHEL OWNER
PUNTER Eddie Hayson has confirmed he will attend tomorrow's inquiry and sounds fired-up for the appearance.
"I can't believe Gai has bagged everyone at the inquiry, calling Singo an old drunk and a sham, me a brothel owner and having a crack at Joey and Robbo (Allan Robinson)," he said.
"How can she say we've dragged her family name through the mud? She's the one who owes an apology to every punter that backed More Joyous. She's trying to deflect the blame."
THE FORM EXPERTS
PROFESSIONAL punters have no doubt the mare ran below her best.
One has pointed out how poor More Joyous' run was compared to three starts back, in the Canterbury Stakes.
She gave Rain Affair four lengths' start at the 400m that day, yet beat the horse by four lengths.
In the All Aged stakes, More Joyous gave the same horse two lengths' start at the 400m but finished five lengths behind Rain Affair.
That's an 11-length worse performance while under a fitness cloud, although the different speed of each race has to be taken into account.
Racing guru Ron Dufficy agreed it was a poor run.
"I liked her before the race, but she didn't run up to expectations," he said. "I put it down as an ordinary run, but not a terrible one. A crippled horse would have got beaten by 10 lengths.
"The point we're all missing is that the average punter got left out. Racing is supposed to be an information highway.
"Gear changes, different riding tactics and other things have to be reported to stewards so the average punter knows what's going on," Dufficy said.
STORY SOURCE: SYDNEY TELEGRAPH – NEWS LIMITED
