Prominent jockey David Walker was yesterday charged with one of racing's most serious offences - deliberately holding a horse back from winning.
The Racing Integrity Unit yesterday charged Walker with two breaches of the Rules of Racing following his ride on Watch Your Man in race three at Awapuni on August 16.
The RIU alleges Walker placed bets on another horse, St Ransom, and deliberately rode his horse to ensure his own bets were successful.
It is against the rules of racing for a jockey to place bets on a horse other than the one they are riding. In New Zealand jockeys are permitted to back their own mounts, which is not allowed in Australia.