Racing: RVL will not appeal Nikolic decision

Racing Victoria has closed the book on the Danny Nikolic case and will not appeal the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board findings handed down last month.

Racing Victoria integrity general manager Dayle Brown yesterday issued a one-paragraph statement.

"We have reviewed the findings of the RADB and their reasons for the decision in the case involving Danny Nikolic and have decided not to lodge an appeal," Brown said.

RVL stewards conducted an exhaustive 137-day inquiry into 21 of Nikolic's rides this season and while identifying 11 of them as having questionable components, failed to convince the RADB that Nikolic had engaged in improper practice (two charges) and conduct prejudicial (two charges) to the image of racing.

It was alleged Nikolic had formed associations with certain people and had communications with them.

Bets well outside the associates' normal betting patterns were placed on Betfair against a number of Nikolic's rides between October 1 last year and February 13 this year.

Eight of those horses were laid to lose on Betfair by Nikolic's friend, professional punter and commission agent Neville Clements, for substantial amounts.

Queensland punters Alessandro Alaimo and Kevin McFarlane both laid two of Nikolic's mounts, with both laying the same horse on one occasion, on Betfair.

Nikolic said he had used Clements as a form analyst, which has raised the possibility of licensing form analysts, which RVL chief executive Rob Hines said was now being considered by RVL's integrity sub-committee.

"The integrity sub-committee is looking at whether a relationship should or should not exist between form analysts and jockeys and how that could work and the ramifications for Rules of Racing," Hines said.

He said a decision was likely to take months.

Nikolic has indicated that he may seek out racing's government-appointed watchdog Sal Perna to investigate the running of the case against him, which he claims has adversely affected his reputation and cost him A$100,000.

The relationship between RVL chief steward Terry Bailey and Nikolic remains frosty as a result of the inquiry.

- AAP