JC / Railbird

Misdeeds & Wrongdoing Archive

Naming the Unnameable Scandal

Thanks to the readers who sent in possible names for the racing scandal that broke on January 13 in New York. Coming up was something snappy was tough, as quite a few of you pointed out — the scandal is nothing if not multi-faceted, what with allegations of milkshaking and race-fixing, tax evasion and mob involvement. But I think most of the suggestions capture the whole pretty well.
The possibilities: Uvarigate, Mob Rocket, $200 Million Fix, Cookies-and-Milkshake Scandal, Shake and Rebate.
The winner: I’ve a weakness for puns, which makes Mob Rocket tempting, but I think I have to go with Cookies-and-Milkshake Scandal, submitted by Alan Mann. Thanks, Alan! The scandal shall henceforth by referred to by its new name, or the acronym CAMS, on this site.

Posted in Misdeeds & Wrongdoing on January 31, 2005

Bookmaker Claims It’s Whistle-Blower

The British bookmaker Euro Off-Track claims to have acted as a whistle-blower in the race-fixing/betting scandal that broke two weeks ago. Apparently, the betting shop, which was among the four named in the indictments of January 13 and which has been cut off by NYRA, reported the transaction specified in the charges as a “suspicious transaction.” Intriguingly, Euro Off-Track’s manager says that Magna, which hasn’t cut it signal to any simulcasting sites in the indictments’ wake, sent Euro Off-Track a notice calling for increased transparency and a new protocol in order to keep its signal, to which the betting shop agreed. (Racing Post)
Aside: We really need a catchy name for this scandal. Any suggestions? Email me, and I’ll post the best next week.

Posted in Misdeeds & Wrongdoing on January 27, 2005

Scandal = Increased Handle

At least by $2 on a recent Saturday. A racetrack newbie dazzled by news of the race-fixing indictments two weeks ago visits Aqueduct in search of a seedy good time. “Intrigue! Drugs! The mob! Now this was a reason to gamble.” (New York Press) [Link found on the newly-begun and already excellent racing blog, Left at the Gate — definitely worth repeat visits, if not a spot on your bookmark list.]

Posted in Misdeeds & Wrongdoing on January 26, 2005