THE exacta payout of $30 for the combination of 30/1 winner Macho Uno and second favourite Homebrush Baby caused raised eyebrows when the dividend was flashed on the electronic tote board and on the television monitors at Santa Rosa Park, Arima last Saturday.

Several turfites questioned the figures in light of the payment of $34.95 to win on Macho Uno.

’Well it depends how much people had the forecast...somebody apparently bet the forecast big time,’ stated Arima Race Club president Kama Maharaj yesterday when asked for an explanation.

’I remember when my horse Decisive Point was 70/1 and paid $1.70 to place.’

Maharaj was also questioned on the recent searches of jockeys at the starting gate for illegal devices, as well as a ban on the use of cell phones in the jockeys’ room at Santa Rosa.

’We were working on information received when these checks were made on jockeys,’ he replied. ’Jockeys are not supposed to have their cell phones in the jockeys’ room. We do not think it is right. It’s tough...they will say it’s a personal thing.

’I know in the USA, they are trying to do the same thing. All we want to do is avoid anything that could compromise the integrity of racing. If the reports of jockeys abusing phone use on raceday in the jockeys’ room persists we will have to put cameras in the jockeys room. We do not want to intrude on their privacy, but the integrity of the sport has to be protected.’

When told that Ainsley Mark, chairman-designate of the Betting Levy Board (BLB), raised the matter of horsemen betting on races at Santa Rosa with a private bookmaker in Tobago, Maharaj responded: ’The Betting Levy Board should look into that, not the club. We could police bookmakers on the premises, but the BLB should take action. We have no evidence of that...all we have is speculation.’

’Before centralisation, this (bookie betting) was a plague and it has become easier now with cell phones. We could not handle it then and now with the advent of cell phones it’s harder. One bookie was charged and it was thrown out of the court,’ Maharaj added.

’It is something we are grappling with. There are allegations that certain trainers have people that are working with the bookie working with them. We know bookmakers are laying off bets, so it does not make sense betting with them. They will not take Hi-5 and superfecta bets.

’There is bookmaking all over. It’s a plague on the industry and its tentacles have allegedly reached the jockeys. I have heard that the bookies have private clockers...these people are professionals, so when you see certain payouts you know why.’

As to how the club intends to curb the issue, Maharaj said: ’We are looking into it. We know the clockers cannot get all the horses and right now we are looking for additional clockers.

’Sometimes when you see a surprising result and a surprising payment, somebody laid off a bet.

’We are quietly devising ways to ensure the integrity is secured and anyone caught will be warned off. Everytime we hear something, we investigate, and patrons could be assured we are doing everything to secure the integrity of the sport.’

BLB chairman-designate Mark could not be contacted yesterday, while acting chairman Joe Hadeed is out of the country.