Bad Day at the Track

Man threatened to kill horse after betting error
By REUTERS

LONDON - A gambler who threatened to kill a racehorse in a bid to stop it taking part in a race after he forgot to place his syndicate’s bet was given a suspended jail term on Monday.

Andrew Rodgerson, 26, warned a stud manager not to run 2008 St Leger winner Conduit in a valuable race at Ascot after he forgot to place the accumulator bet, the Press Association reported.

He panicked when he realised that victory for Conduit in last July’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes would lead to the syndicate expecting winnings of 50,000 pounds ($80,500), Bolton Crown Court heard.

Rodgerson, of Balderstone, near Rochdale, sent a series of text messages and emails to Peter Reynolds, the general manager for the Ballymacoll Stud Farm in Ireland which owned Conduit.

Ten days before the race he texted Mr Reynolds: “Dear Peter, we would just like to warn you should Conduit run in the King George then the horse will be killed.”

Five days later he followed up with an email to the general manager, which read: “Dear Peter, I don’t believe you are taking the threat of death to Conduit very seriously.

“We want the horse removed from the King George this weekend. If you co-operate the horse will live.

“There are people living in and around Newmarket who are ready and willing. There will also be people around at Ascot on Saturday.”

Police were informed and Rodgerson was arrested at his home address just two days before the race.

He had pleaded guilty to threatening to commit damage at an earlier hearing after a charge of blackmail was dropped.

Sentencing him to 34 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, Judge Angela Nield said he had embarked on a “foolish escapade.”

Wow. I've heard of degenerate gamblers but this guy takes the cake. This guy makes Pete Rose look like a little old lady who buys a quick pick once a week with her coffee. What's worse is that this horse winning wouldn't have cost this guy any money. He just couldn't stand the idea that other people would win when he forget to place his bet. A few bad apples eh? I guess he can take odds in the slammer on who gets raped next.