Racing: Bookies caught in clever coup

LONDON - The mastermind of an audacious betting plunge which netted "not far off €200,000 ($350,460)" at Kilbeggan in Ireland last week said the coup was "just for fun and not for the money".

Two hundred runners were paid between €10-€30 to place a €200 win bet on D Four Dave five minutes before the start of a hurdle race on Tuesday evening, the Racing Post reported.

The newspaper said all were given a letter with detailed instructions on how to place the bets and a watch to ensure all bets were placed at exactly the same time in separate betting shops around the Dublin and Kildare area.

D Four Dave was at 14-1 on the morning of the race and opened at 7-1 on course before starting at 5-1 and galloping to an easy victory.

The Racing Post said the vast majority of the 200 individuals employed to place the bets were foreign nationals, as the organisers sought to minimise the risk of information being leaked.

- AAP