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Horse Racing Regulators Hope to End Past Posting, Improve Security
Calling racing regulators “protectors” of horse racing bettors, handicapper Mike Maloney urged horse racing commissioners to take action to stop past-posting incidents and improve wagering integrity.
A Keeneland Race Course-based professional horse player, Maloney spoke at the Association of Racing Commissioners International annual convention on Tuesday in Austin, Texas. Maloney, who has been betting on horses for 30 years, said he has seen too many instances where race wagers continue to be accepted well after the gates have opened.
RCI Integrity Services President Paul Bowlinger, himself an avid horseplayer, said Maloney’s story shows the need for fast action.
“We’re no longer talking in the abstract,” Bowlinger said. “What frustrates me is that we talked about this two years ago.”
Last year the RCI passed a model rule on wagering integrity that requires states to obtain independent software to monitor pools, but states have been slow to act. Software by RCI Integrity Services that would assure such a requirement is met currently has just one customer, Youbet.
In December at the Symposium on Racing and Gaming, Maloney documented his ability to wager on a Fair Grounds race at Keeneland well after the event had started. Maloney made the wagers to prove it could be done, after raising this issue with racetrack officials and industry insiders since 2002.
“They would look at me like I’d just reported a UFO,” Maloney said.
Maloney believes regulators are best suited to solve the problem.
“When we’re out there betting at any level, whether it be $2 or $2,000, you are our protectors,” Maloney said.
Bowlinger said racing could be losing significant handle because players are not confident in integrity of the pools. He said the issue must be addressed.
“The [National Thoroughbred Racing Association] reported...
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