Racing Victoria stewards call for 20-year disqualification for jockey Michael Poy over ‘deliberate, elaborate’ betting scheme

Racing Victoria stewards have called for a hefty disqualification for jockey Michael Poy for his part in a betting scheme involving lay bets against 46 of his rides in 2021 and 2022.

Michael Poy faces up to 20 years out of racing after pleading guilty to a host of charges relating to betting against his mounts. Picture: Racing Photos

Racing Victoria stewards have asked for a 20-year ban for jockey Michael Poy for his part in a betting scheme involving himself, fellow rider Lewis German and a professional punter.

Counsel representing stewards asked the Victoria Racing Tribunal to impose the massive penalty on Poy, accusing him of directing a betting group that wagered more than $2 million in lay bets on mounts ridden by him and German in 2022.

Poy has pleaded guilty to a raft of charges, including the most serious charge of conduct prejudicial to the image, interests and welfare of racing, for which the stewards asked for a 15-year penalty. Stewards asked for a further five years’ disqualification for the other charges.

Poy’s counsel Tim McHenry asked for a disqualification period of five to seven years.

'I APOLOGISE TO THE RACNG COMMUNITY, I LET THEM DOWN'

Former jockey Lewis German has received a 10-year disqualification for riding horses to lose in a 2022 betting scandal. Story: @gilbertgardiner👇https://t.co/rBILe4krSN

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) March 18, 2025

RV’s counsel, Adrian Anderson, told the tribunal Poy orchestrated the betting operation, which consisted predominantly of lay betting against his rides and those of German, who received a 10-year ban in an earlier hearing into the matter.

Professional punter Noah Brash placed 46 lay bets against Poy’s mounts, risking $1.51 million.

All 46 bets were successful, netting more than $104,000 profit for the scheme.

Brash risked more than $2.45 million betting against 89 of German’s rides with the 87 successful bets returning more than $259,000 profit.

The VRT heard Poy ran the betting syndicate, sending Brash encrypted messages via the Signal app with the pair using the codenames ‘Leo’ for Poy and ‘Blue Bull’ for German.

Anderson told the VRT Poy initially denied all knowledge of the messages between him and Brash, denying he was ‘Leo’.

However, Poy decided to plead guilty after stewards successfully subpoenaed phone and message records.

Jockey Michael Poy advised a professional punter to place lay bets against 46 of his rides, producing more than $104,000 in profit. Picture: Getty Images

Stewards alleged Poy sent messages such as “Lay the 2 for 80K”, telling Brash to bet against his mount Pill Box in a race in August 2022.

Poy also allegedly told Brash to “have 10K on mine to beat his (German’s mount) HTH (head-to-head), in another race in the same month.

Stewards contended that message was for Brash to back Poy’s mount Mr Scorefield to beat home German’s ride American Russ at Swan Hill on August 7 that year.

Poy finished third, 13 lengths ahead of American Russ, whom Brash has also laid bets against, offering $15 on the $8 chance.

“This is the highest echelon of conduct prejudicial to the image, interests and welfare of racing, damaging to the confidence of the betting public,” Anderson told the VRT.

“It was a deliberate, elaborate scheme designed to avoid detection.

“It was only through a careless act of Mr Brash that the offending was uncovered.

“It involved deception of the stewards until a very late stage of the investigation.”

McHenry, told the VRT a disqualification starting at a maximum of 10 years was appropriate, arguing there was no evidence Poy received any money from the scheme while contending his messages to Brash were only suggestions for bets.

Anderson disputed both arguments, telling the tribunal it was “fanciful” that Poy had not profited from his betting.

McHenry described Poy as “highly susceptible to influence from others”, submitting a psychological report advising the rider had anxiety and post traumatic stress disorders, possibly relating to the death of his mother from cancer.

The VRT will hand down Poy’s penalty on Thursday morning.

Originally published as Racing Victoria stewards call for 20-year disqualification for jockey Michael Poy over ‘deliberate, elaborate’ betting scheme