From the bookies mouth

[imaufo]

An interesting read on AAP

http://www.aapracingandsports.com.au/racing/racingfeatures.asp?f=featurearticles-badlosses04

[cheesebeast]

Victorian bookmakers questioned at Warwick Farm 5 Oct 2004

By Jo Adams

A quiet holiday meeting at Warwick Farm on Monday developed into a very long day when an unexpected stewards inquiry ran until 8pm.

RacingNSW stewards adjourned the inquiry after seizing documents and questioning a group of four people, including licensed Melbourne bookmakers Frank Hudson and Alan Eskander and Melbourne based commission agent Hass Taiber and his associate Michael Khodr.

Racecourse detective Bob Nicholson reported to stewards that he had observed Hudson, Taiber and Khodr at a table in a bar at Warwick Farm with several A4 sized sheets of paper and form guides, making and receiving calls on mobile phones while constantly checking the monitors showing the fluctuations for the various race meetings around the country.

Nicholson reported that later on in the afternoon at about 2pm the three gentlemen were joined by Alan Eskander.

“I did not observe Mr Eskander making or receiving any calls and he did not write on any of the papers. He stayed for about 20 minutes and then left.”

Nicholson returned with Stewards Marc Van Gestel, Steve Railton and betting supervisor Ray Sultana. They spoke to the trio and after a minor dispute with Michael Khodr, they took possession of the documents under AR8b. These included A4 sheets, with figures in red and blue with notations and also form guides for the various meetings including Warwick Farm, Eagle Farm, Warrnambool and Ballina.

Stewards then spoke to bookmaker Frank Hudson who explained that he was on a social visit to Sydney as well as looking for a client he named as Chris Woods.

Acting Chief Steward Greg Rudolph asked Hudson if he had been running a book today.

Hudson replied no.

“Is it your writing on the sheets of paper?

”Yes,” replied Hudson

“What do the figures relate to?”

”No comment.”

“It’s a pretty serious offence not answering questions,” Rudolph reminded Hudson.

Hudson however did not want to answer any further questions put to him.

“I was given a months suspension six years ago in Melbourne based on the law of probabililty and my QC advised me to make no comment when asked any further questions until I had received legal advice.”

When questioned about his mobile phone Hudson did admit to making one or two calls and that he was happy to provide the records of his phone for the stewards.

Stewards then questioned Alan Eskander who advised he was also on a social visit as he had an appointment in Sydney on Tuesday.

“Michael (Khodr) and Hass (Taiber) are clients of mine in Melbourne,” confirmed Eskander.

"I am here for a social day out although I make no secret I am also trying to find new clients."

When asked if he knew anything about the notations ESK on the sheets Eskander replied:

“I have never seen the documents it’s not my writing and I did not have a bet all day.”

When asked about his use of his mobile, Eskander was also happy to provide stewards with the phone records when available.

Stewards then moved on to commission agent Hass Taiber .

When asked he advised stewards that he did not have a bet all day with Eskander or Hudson.

“I recognise the sheets you have there but they are not mine.

“I also recognise the form guides but they aren’t mine either.

“The only bets I had all day were with the tote. I had none with any bookmaker.”

"On the sheets there are figures of 5000, 1500 and 3375 with the words Hass next to them, that's your name?" asked steward Van Gestel.

"Yes, but I've had no activity with Frank Hudson today.

"I had no bets with him and I owe him nothing."

"Doesn't it seem strange that your name is there?"

"I can't answer that I don't know," replied Taiber.

Michael Khodr was the last to be questioned but his answers were generally ‘no comment’

Acting Chief Steward Greg Rudolph reminded him that it was a serious matter and that he did have to answer questions. When questioned about the sheets of paper Khodr agreed that he had made the notations on the paper but they ‘meant nothing’

‘They are just numbers it’s just something I do when I am bored s*******,” said Khodr.

“What do the initials Esk stand for?

”I don’t know, Eskimo Pie for all I know,” replied Khodr.

‘It looks like a running total,” said Rudolph.

“Well it’s not,” replied Khodr.

“We just play games,” he added.

“Do they relate to betting?” asked Rudolph.

“Definitely not.”

“These are not very satisfying answers,” said Rudolph.

“It’s obvious you’re telling lies.”

”I’m not, I’ll give you the records of my phone so you can see who I called and what calls I received,” said Khodr.

"What will that tell us? replied Rudolph.

“You’re conduct is something we might have to address,” Rudolph reminded Khodr.

“You might be looking at a fine or worse.”

”That’s fine,” said Khodr.

“Is it?” replied Rudolph, through gritted teeth.

Stewards then adjourned the inquiry for a brief time and recommenced giving them a further chance to provide a reasonable explanation of the events.

Hudson again however refused to comment until he had received legal advice.

When Eskander was questioned again regarding figures on the sheets.

"There are figures here on the form guide that seem to correlate with the figures on the sheets.

"There's a notation of initials ** with a figure of 5000 next to Corniche another ** with 8000 next to Restless Wind (both in red) and a further initial *** figure of 13,000 in blue.

"Do you have clients with initials ** and **?"

"I don't know, potentially I would have a client ** but I am not trying to mislead you, off the top of my head I don't know," said Eskander.

"I really don't have a comment to make on it. It's not my writing and I can't give an intelligent response to the thinking of someone else.

"I can't shed any light on the matter," said Eskander.

There was no further explanations from the other parties and Stewards then adjourned the inquiry to a date to be fixed.

From Racenet (http://www.racenet.com.au/n/lnews.asp?nid=13036#13036)

[imaufo]

Visiting bookie admits taking bets in NSW

By John Schell

December 7, 2004


Melbourne bookmaker Frank Hudson has admitted to Racing NSW stewards that he held almost $450,000 from 52 unlicensed bets when "socialising" at Warwick Farm on October 4. Hudson and fellow southern bagman Alan Eskander were questioned at the Racing NSW's Mascot headquarters yesterday at the continuation of an inquiry opened on the race day when stewards and racecourse detectives seized documents that resembled a running tally of bets.

Hudson admitted he had betting sheets that totalled a hold of $442,350, taken from three parties. When asked by deputy chief steward Greg Rudolph if he'd had a "handsome winning day", Hudson replied: "Yes."

Hudson and Eskander, who said he was at Warwick Farm "to attract new clients" and prepare for a business meeting the following day, are only licensed to operate as bookmakers in Victoria.

Phone records showed contact between the bookies while at Warwick Farm as well as calls from Eskander to Melbourne-based commission agents Hass Taiba and Michael Khodr, whom the bookies claimed were "clients" and had travelled to Sydney after Hudson booked their plane tickets. Taiba and Khodr, who were with Hudson in a bar at Warwick Farm, failed to show yesterday.

Hudson stuck by his story that he was at Warwick Farm "chasing a punter who bet with me four of five months ago and hasn't paid me" but he admitted when questioned by Rudolph that he was also taking bets.

"Khodr got a call from someone who wanted to have a bet with him," Hudson told the inquiry. "One thing led to another and he sort of persuaded me to take the bets.

"I wasn't keen to start with because [I'm] not allowed to do it [take bets in NSW] and he [Khodr] didn't have a credit rating with me. But then he got a guarantee for the money from a bookmaker in South Australia that owed him so I started taking the bets."

Documents taken from Hudson and Khodr corresponded, showing figures regarding bets made at various meetings that day by clients marked down as "Tony" and "Synd". Hudson took two further bets from a Melbourne bookie named "David".

Hudson and Eskander had an arrangement whereby they bet back with each other as much as possible and their dealings with "Synd", whose bets were also recorded under the initials "JM", were generally split, no matter who accepted them. "Synd" is a well-known racing syndicate with horses in Sydney and Melbourne but Hudson and Eskander did not want the syndicate's name made public. Hudson denied Taiba and Khodr had been brought to Sydney with the idea of running an illegal book at Warwick Farm. However, he said "Synd" and "Tony" were "big betters and we've been chasing their business".

Eskander said he was with Hudson for "about 15 minutes for a beer" at Warwick Farm and wouldn't expose himself to the liability Hudson was up for without adopting a hands-on role with the bets. Stewards accepted Eskander was not with Hudson, Taiba and Khodr for the majority of the day.

Rudolph told Hudson charges were likely to be laid when the inquiry continues on December 17, when it is hoped Taiba and Khodr can be present.

smh

[imaufo]

Victorian bookie slapped with one-year ban and huge fine

By John Schell

December 22, 2004


Melbourne bookmaker Frank Hudson's "big day out" at Warwick Farm more than two months ago yesterday cost him $50,000 and a year's disqualification from entering a racetrack or operating his business.

Hudson, a rails bookie in Melbourne for 16 years, was yesterday found guilty on two counts by Racing NSW stewards of accepting bets at Warwick Farm on October 4 when unlicensed to do so.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,404913,00.jpg

"This was indeed a big day out in many respects," Racing NSW deputy chief steward Greg Rudolph advised Hudson when delivering the penalty.

Hudson had arrived at a Monday meeting at Warwick Farm with Melbourne bookmaking associate Alan Eskander and two commission agents, Michael Khodr and Hass Taiba.

The four were questioned on the day of the races after stewards and racecourse detectives seized documents resembling a running tally of bets belonging to Hudson and Khodr.

After denying at the opening of the inquiry that figures written on the papers were bets, Hudson, after seeking legal advice from his counsel Cliff Pannam, admitted to taking 52 bets at Warwick Farm and holding $442,350 on the day, primarily in bets placed by Khodr.

Khodr, who had denied placing bets on the day with Hudson, was not at the reconvened inquiry at Racing NSW headquarters on December 6 which Hudson and Eskander attended, but admitted yesterday to having the bets.

Khodr was also charged on two counts, of giving false and misleading evidence and of improper conduct, and was fined a total of $15,000. While Khodr will not appeal, Hudson immediately lodged an appeal over his 12-month disqualification for taking bets when unlicensed to do so, which also attracted the fine, and a further six-month disqualification for giving false and misleading evidence at the original inquiry.

The disqualifications are to be served concurrently, meaning Hudson is out for one year, but at the conclusion of that period he would have to reapply for his bookmaker's licence from Victorian racing authorities.

"A serious breach of the rules has occurred," Rudolph told Hudson, before adding that his lack of co-operation at the first hearing had "hindered and frustrated stewards".

"This would be one of the most significant penalties ever handed down in NSW," he added.

Hudson - whom Khodr said had "pestered to take bets from me" at Warwick Farm after attracting phone calls from "big clients that I did not want to disappoint" - produced a reference from fellow Melbourne bagman Alan Cleary yesterday.

Cleary detailed that Hudson was an "exemplary member" of the Melbourne bookmaking fraternity and racing industry. The 47-year-old Hudson was described as one of the three leading bookmakers in Victoria.

Khodr said he "deeply regretted" putting Hudson in the position to take bets when unlicensed, but stewards questioned why Hudson had gone ahead with it after Khodr had already been in credit to the extent of almost $200,000 with South Australian bookmaker Curly Seal, as was confirmed by a phone call to the bookie by Khodr when he was in Hudson's presence. Hudson extended credit to Khodr for the day after hearing the call.

Khodr had been betting in Taiba's account with Seal, with Taiba saying the Warwick Farm day out was "Michael [Khodr's] show so I never got involved in it".

A sometimes heated Khodr was happy with his fine, while Hudson, whom Rudolph said had been involved in an "audacious act" at Warwick Farm, made no comment after lodging $200 for his appeal to be heard by the Racing NSW Appeal Panel.

 South Coast-based harness racing trainer-driver Michael Marais was yesterday suspended for six months by NSW Greyhound and Harness Racing Regulatory Authority stewards following the conclusion of an inquiry into his beaten drive on $2 favourite Nosmokingjoecola at Harold Park last Tuesday night.

Marais was charged with not giving Nosmokingjoecola every chance to win or obtain the best possible position in the race won by Pink Whiz. Marais, who pleaded not guilty, indicated he would appeal the suspension.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Horseracing/Victorian-bookie-slapped-with-oneyear-ban-and-huge-fine/2004/12/21/1103391771731.html