'We need to ensure illegal betting is understood as the key threat to integrity'

Coincidence or not, publication by the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) council on Anti-illegal Betting & Related Financial Crime of a handbook for the integrity units of horseracing and other sports is particularly timely.

It came in the same week that Ireland was left reeling by trainer Charles Byrnes’ six-month ban after his Viking Hoard tested positive with dangerously high levels of sedative, following a race at Tramore in which he was heavily laid to lose.

During the course of the inquiry by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, deputy head of security Declan Buckley provided evidence of a lay bet with a liability of €34,889 to win €3,200 on the defeat of Viking Hoard, who was pulled up having drifted from 4-1 to an SP of 8-1.