New Zealand rider banned in extortion try

Jockey Darryl Bradley has been suspended for four months in New Zealand for attempting to extort money from an insurance company that was in line to pay a bonus of approximately $80,000 if Fritzy Boy had won the Southland Guineas at Ascot Park Racecourse on Feb. 16, according to published reports.

The owners of Fritzy Boy were eligible to collect the bonus through insurance brokers Fraser, McAndrew, and Ryan Ltd. if their horse could follow up on his victories in the Gore Guineas and the Dunedin Guineas. Bradley, who was riding Eel Win in the Southland Guineas, called the insurance company seeking reward if a victory by Eel Win denied Fritzy Boy and saved the insurers from having to pay the bonus.

A complaint was lodged with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing the day before entries were taken. Fritzy Boy duly won the race, as Eel Win, second in the previous two races, finished fourth. Fritzy Boy was denied the bonus, though, because only nine runners went to post in the Southland Guineas, while the terms for winning the bonus stated that all three legs had to have at least 10 runners.

Bradley will serve his suspension between March 10 and July 9.