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James McDonald charged

East Coast Racing

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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    edited December 2016
    http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/james-mcdonalds-associates-stood-to-win-near-1-million-as-astern-probe-widens-to-golden-slipper-and-golden-rose-20161221-gtg7iu.html
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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    edited December 2016


    From his twitter account: 


    James McDonald
    ✔
    @mcacajamez
    I made a mistake betting and broke the rules.
    I accept responsibility for that.
    But I am so disappointed with the penalty and will appeal.
    4:07 PM - 22 Dec 2016 

    hash likes this post.

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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,332 posts

    isn't greed a vicious thing?

    I think a lot of the sentence hinges on his very close association with Gardiner...why would they have numerous daily calls? Gardiner also seems to have other jocks "in his pocket".

    imo his days with Godolphin are over. HRH has a squeaky clean, huge international operation  would not put up with this $hite. Arabs have long memories and do not like to be hoodwinked.

    Thunderstruck likes this post.

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  • savethegamesavethegame    2,978 posts
    No doubt gardiner had other jockeys, once it has  became apparent, McDonald has quickly taken the bullet .Medal of honour from the room.Gardiner was and is always going to get warned off., show or no show.Halt the enquiry the  rest can go thanx macca.
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  • detonatordetonator    4,388 posts
    edited December 2016
    These penalties are like the afl tribunal.
    McDonald 18 months for tipping the horse he rides and has $1000 on it and it wins.
    Oliver 8 months for betting on another horse in a race he is riding in and it wins.
    Whyte 1 month for letting the other horse win.
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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    @detonator Did they change the rules after Oliver's case to introduce mandatory penalties though? I don't know if that's the case or whether there's a difference between Racing NSW and their Victorian counterparts but I wouldn't be surprised. The penalty is excessive anyway and I don't believe for a second that J Mac is the only jockey with or without links to a major punter who has had a bet on one of their mounts since Oliver was busted. It's nothing more than window dressing.
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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,332 posts
    i think it being a Godolphin horse has A LOT to do with the penalty.

    detonator, Winsumlosesum likes this post.

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  • detonatordetonator    4,388 posts
    edited December 2016
    thefalcon said:

    i think it being a Godolphin horse has A LOT to do with the penalty.

    Same as the afl. The superstars get soft sentences, the battlers get the book thrown at them.
    Godolphon needs to be protected as per their reputation so McDonald cops the whack.
    I believe there is more to this than we realise.
    Gardiner seems to be a shady character whose tentacles are reaching a host of jockeys.
    NSW racing making a stand.
    Flexing their muscle to appease Godolphin.




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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    edited December 2016
    detonator said:

    thefalcon said:

    i think it being a Godolphin horse has A LOT to do with the penalty.

    Same as the afl. The superstars get soft sentences, the battlers get the book thrown at them.
    Godolphon needs to be protected as per their reputation so McDonald cops the whack.
    I believe there is more to this than we realise.
    Gardiner seems to be a shady character whose tentacles are reaching a host of jockeys.
    NSW racing making a stand.
    Flexing their muscle to appease Godolphin.





    Godolphin is hardly what I'd call a battler. If J Mac really was on a nearly seven figure retainer as was reported then he's an idiot for throwing that away for such a measly return. Apart from the guaranteed income he doesn't need the Sheik's support though. Oliver did far worse and he's back riding and commanding decent rides. Seems like Mac just asked Gardiner to have a grand on for him when the punter told him how much he was betting. I doubt there was more to it than that. It was stupid and he got caught red handed.

    hash likes this post.

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  • FastmoneyFastmoney    4,912 posts
    therealkramer said:

    detonator said:

    thefalcon said:

    i think it being a Godolphin horse has A LOT to do with the penalty.

    Same as the afl. The superstars get soft sentences, the battlers get the book thrown at them.
    Godolphon needs to be protected as per their reputation so McDonald cops the whack.
    I believe there is more to this than we realise.
    Gardiner seems to be a shady character whose tentacles are reaching a host of jockeys.
    NSW racing making a stand.
    Flexing their muscle to appease Godolphin.





     Seems like Mac just asked Gardiner to have a grand on for him when the punter told him how much he was betting. I doubt there was more to it than that. It was stupid and he got caught red handed.
    LOL
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  • detonatordetonator    4,388 posts
    edited December 2016






    therealkramer said:

    detonator said:

    thefalcon said:

    i think it being a Godolphin horse has A LOT to do with the penalty.

    Same as the afl. The superstars get soft sentences, the battlers get the book thrown at them.
    Godolphon needs to be protected as per their reputation so McDonald cops the whack.
    I believe there is more to this than we realise.
    Gardiner seems to be a shady character whose tentacles are reaching a host of jockeys.
    NSW racing making a stand.
    Flexing their muscle to appease Godolphin.





    Godolphin is hardly what I'd call a battler. If J Mac really was on a nearly seven figure retainer as was reported then he's an idiot for throwing that away for such a measly return. Apart from the guaranteed income he doesn't need the Sheik's support though. Oliver did far worse and he's back riding and commanding decent rides. Seems like Mac just asked Gardiner to have a grand on for him when the punter told him how much he was betting. I doubt there was more to it than that. It was stupid and he got caught red handed.


    Probably didn't say it how I wanted to.
    McDonald isn't a battler but could be replaced by McEvoy, Bowman, Avdulla etc and not miss a beat.
    Godolphon is the big ticket superstar and hence the stewards give them the respect to appease them.
    I agree Olivers penalty should have been more than J Macs but he got the superstar treatment.
    Whyte got the superstar treatment.
    That's how it works rightly or wrongly.
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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    edited December 2016
    detonator said:








    Probably didn't say it how I wanted to.
    McDonald isn't a battler but could be replaced by McEvoy, Bowman, Avdulla etc and not miss a beat.
    Godolphon is the big ticket superstar and hence the stewards give them the respect to appease them.
    I agree Olivers penalty should have been more than J Macs but he got the superstar treatment.
    Whyte got the superstar treatment.
    That's how it works rightly or wrongly.


    I really don't think Godolphin wanted to lose J Mac. Losing their retained rider hurts them and Bowman is unlikely to take up the offer-especially as he and J Mac are good mates. Avdulla may seemingly be next in line but he is not on J Macs level-not by a long shot. McEvoy chose to leave Godolphin due to lack of opportunities but he would be getting first choice of rides now and I think he's the obvious candidate and he rode Scottish for them in the Caulfield Cup this year.
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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,332 posts

    you guys have forgotten the battery of jocks HRH has in the UK, Europe and the middle east. they could chop and change at their will...Doyle is not doing a bad job and he and his family probably relish a few months in Sydney.

    then they could replace him with another...then another....the giant keeps moving.

    you can bet your last dollar they will sack that idiot JM.

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  • FastmoneyFastmoney    4,912 posts
    edited December 2016
    https://www.racenet.com.au/news/129805/LEGAL-OPINION---The-power-of-racing-stewards’-Vs-the-Police.

    "In relation to the James McDonald case generally, I can't believe the public condemnation of the decision.

    The comparison to the Damien Oliver case is irrelevant. In fact the Oliver case is what ultimately sealed McDonald's fate.

    Oliver received a 10-month disqualification for having a bet back in 2012.

    As a direct result of that seemingly appallingly
    inadequate penalty, the rules of racing were specifically amended in
    2013 so that if a jockey breached AR 83(d) and had a bet or an interest
    in a bet, then under AR 196(5) the mandatory penalty is a two year
    disqualification with a reduction if there are "special circumstances"
    as defined in Local Rule 108 (usually pleading guilty, assisting
    stewards, mental impairment or duress).

    To use the Oliver case and/or any other case for
    that matter prior to the introduction of the mandatory rule in 2013, is
    completely irrelevant in my opinion.

    The starting point was, is and will always be two years with a reduction under LR 108 in certain cases.

    The general law affords a maximum discount of 25 percent for a plea of guilty at an early stage.

    Applying simple math's to the equation, McDonald,
    by pleading guilty to a breach under AR 83(d) received a mandatory
    disqualification of two years.

    Because he pleaded guilty at an early stage, and
    even though the phone examined had some information missing from it,
    stewards afforded him a 25 percent discount on penalty finally deciding
    on a disqualification of 18 months.

    Even though they did not have to back date the
    start of the disqualification, they did so and it commenced on the day
    McDonald stood himself down."

    JayJay, Chariotsonfire likes this post.

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  • detonatordetonator    4,388 posts
    edited December 2016
    Fastmoney said:

    https://www.racenet.com.au/news/129805/LEGAL-OPINION---The-power-of-racing-stewards’-Vs-the-Police.

    "In relation to the James McDonald case generally, I can't believe the public condemnation of the decision.

    The comparison to the Damien Oliver case is irrelevant. In fact the Oliver case is what ultimately sealed McDonald's fate.

    Oliver received a 10-month disqualification for having a bet back in 2012.

    As a direct result of that seemingly appallingly
    inadequate penalty, the rules of racing were specifically amended in
    2013 so that if a jockey breached AR 83(d) and had a bet or an interest
    in a bet, then under AR 196(5) the mandatory penalty is a two year
    disqualification with a reduction if there are "special circumstances"
    as defined in Local Rule 108 (usually pleading guilty, assisting
    stewards, mental impairment or duress).

    To use the Oliver case and/or any other case for
    that matter prior to the introduction of the mandatory rule in 2013, is
    completely irrelevant in my opinion.

    The starting point was, is and will always be two years with a reduction under LR 108 in certain cases.

    The general law affords a maximum discount of 25 percent for a plea of guilty at an early stage.

    Applying simple math's to the equation, McDonald,
    by pleading guilty to a breach under AR 83(d) received a mandatory
    disqualification of two years.

    Because he pleaded guilty at an early stage, and
    even though the phone examined had some information missing from it,
    stewards afforded him a 25 percent discount on penalty finally deciding
    on a disqualification of 18 months.

    Even though they did not have to back date the
    start of the disqualification, they did so and it commenced on the day
    McDonald stood himself down."

    <Fair point Fast. Mandatory rule post 2013 explains it.
    Still think it goes further than just one bet by J Mac. We will probably never know.

    thefalcon likes this post.

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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    detonator said:




    The missing information/phone data is interesting but it still doesn't change the fact that they found enough to keep him out of the game for an extended stretch. Maybe whatever is missing is none of their business and a non-racing manner. I think he'd be more discreet if he was going to bet more often. If he had kept his winnings in cash and refrained from texting his so-called mate then there would be nothing to charge him with.
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  • detonatordetonator    4,388 posts
    therealkramer said:

    detonator said:






    The missing information/phone data is interesting but it still doesn't change the fact that they found enough to keep him out of the game for an extended stretch. Maybe whatever is missing is none of their business and a non-racing manner. I think he'd be more discreet if he was going to bet more often. If he had kept his winnings in cash and refrained from texting his so-called mate then there would be nothing to charge him with.

    Maybe his association with this Gardiner chap has him falling on his sword. Obviously the stewards dont like Gardiners association with other jockeys as well. Driving them to the races, playing golf with them etc.
    therealkramer said:

    I read Gardiner won $120k+ on Astern. Also read McDonalds family had to tell Gardiner to leave McDonalds house post the investigation. Doesnt sound great.

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  • detonatordetonator    4,388 posts
    Sorry Kramer those are my quotes above. Not used to different electronic device. Cant edit.
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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    edited December 2016
    Nathan Snow does speed maps for Brenton Avdulla. It was his idea to lead on Lesqueti Spirit in the Oaks. That's quite useful information to have pre-race when the odds-on fav is a backmarker 

    The gun has been warned by Sydney stewards about associating with pro punters in the past. 
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  • therealkramertherealkramer    8,008 posts
    edited December 2016
    I'm not suggesting anything untoward in the above example but it does open the way for conflict of interest to occur. A lot of jockeys pay someone else to do the form and/or speed maps so it's not hard to see how they become entangled with pro punters. 
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  • OnyaChinaOnyaChina    13 posts
    I don't think you can compare his sentence to Oliver's given the rule changes. I'd much rather a jockey backing his mount than against it but the rules don't differentiate. Massive price to pay for a few grand. And I reckon the Sheikh set the tone for he how he deals with these situations when he dealt with Al Zarooni.

    Shame he didn't give his son the same tough love.

    I'm looking forward to seeing J-Mac back regardless of who he rides for. Massive price to pay for short sightedness. But please please please don't take up the offer of guidance / counselling given by the Pumper.

    thefalcon, detonator likes this post.

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  • detonatordetonator    4,388 posts
    OnyaChina said:

    I don't think you can compare his sentence to Oliver's given the rule changes. I'd much rather a jockey backing his mount than against it but the rules don't differentiate. Massive price to pay for a few grand. And I reckon the Sheikh set the tone for he how he deals with these situations when he dealt with Al Zarooni.

    Shame he didn't give his son the same tough love.

    I'm looking forward to seeing J-Mac back regardless of who he rides for. Massive price to pay for short sightedness. But please please please don't take up the offer of guidance / counselling given by the Pumper.


    Gardiner out, replaced by "The Pumper" Good luck with that one. :))

    JayJay, thefalcon likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,095 posts
    Yeah, just what he needs....Honest Jim as a mentor...all said with a straight face as well.

    thefalcon, detonator, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,332 posts
    the scary part is jim is dead serious..... 8-X

    JayJay, detonator, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • OnyaChinaOnyaChina    13 posts
    That is the scariest bit. An interview last week where the Pumper was throwing out there his consulting abilities in this area.

    I generally respect jockeys. What those blokes (even chicks that feel the need to train also simultaneously) go through in terms of danger, managing weight, putting up with wanker owners / trainers (or their sons in at least once instance), is far more than this 105kg egotistical, weight misunderstood bloke can take. Those that know me will giggle at the 105kg

    I want a jockey that wants to ride my horse. He feels it's a good thing. He tells me so. Then he gets skin in the game! Back it to bejesus. Hell I'll spot you son.

    This is one rule worth looking at.

    I'd also like to apologise about my earlier snide comment about the Sheik and his son. We can't always control our kids (nor should we) and making a joke about a drug induced death is poor form on my part notwithstanding the other alleged misdeeds


    paraletic likes this post.

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  • ColourfulRDColourfulRD    480 posts
    He had a lot more than $1000 on it

    G-Mac likes this post.

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  • G-MacG-Mac    1,654 posts
    Going OK since
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