Texts expose Racing Victoria betting scandal details at tribunal

A Victoria Racing Tribunal has finally revealed the details of the betting scandal that rocked Racing Victoria last month.  
 
According to testimony and evidence presented at the tribunal showed that jockeys Michael Poy and Lewis German colluded with registered horse owner Alysha Vass and professional punter Noah Brash to manipulate horse racing betting markets.  
 
The most revealing evidence about the betting scheme came from a series of text messages between Poy and Brash. 

“Have 10K on mine,” said jockey 

A number of encrypted text messages were introduced as evidence before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on Friday. The most damning of those texts was a message sent directly from Michael Poy to professional punter Noah Brash.  
 
Poy, who’s phone was identified as “Leo” by the Victorian Racing Tribunal, told Brash (“Blue Bull”) to “Have 10K on mine,” referring to his horse Mr. Scorefield in a race at Swan Hill in August 2022.  
 
Later in the Day, Poy also allegedly told Brash to put $12,000 on Pill Box, another one of the jockey’s mounts.  

Tips on other horses 

Poy did not just feed Brash information about his own horse. The 25-year-old also informed the punter about Lewis German and others’ mounts.  
 
In the same race that Poy told Brash to back his horse, Poy allegedly also told Brash to bet between $70,000-$80,000 on German’s mount, American Russ. 
 
In total, it’s alleged German, Poy, and Brash colluded to bet over $100,000 on rigged races between April and August of 2022.  
 
Poy, who has ridden nearly 400 winners in his young career in West Australia, has not raced since April 2024. German has been out of action since September 2023.  

Charges and next steps 

Victoria Racing Tribunal Judge John Bowman has not brought the hammer down on Vass, Poy, German, and Brash just yet.  
 
Racing Victoria has requested further directions and another hearing once Optus Australia phone records can be produced. Until then, the charges against the four co-conspirators remain open and unresolved.  
 
Vass, who has not been directly implicated by Victoria Racing Tribuna evidence so far, has been charged with one charge of failing to comply with a direction from stewards. 
 
German faces four charges of betting on outcomes of a race in which he was riding and engaging “in an action or practice which was dishonest, corrupt and/or improper.” Brash has been charged with 6 counts of the same offences.  
 
Poy, the main conspirator, faces 19 charges.