Prominent Victorian jumps jockey Aaron Mitchell has been slapped with a serious charge by Racing Victoria stewards after allegedly placing 311 bets on Australian racing. The charges relate to betting activity that took place between May 26 and December 14, 2022.
While none of the bets placed were on races that Mitchell was directly or indirectly involved in, licensed jockeys are strictly prohibited from betting on Australian racing.
Mitchell, who has not ridden since August 2022, faces one charge under the Australian Rule of Racing 115(1)(c) which pertains to the act of betting, and two charges under 229(1)(h), which relate to making false or misleading statements or declarations in connection with the administration or control of racing.
According to an official statement from Racing Victoria, “For the 2021-2022 racing season, and again for the 2022–2023 racing season, Mr Mitchell submitted a Jockey Betting Account Declaration Form in which he failed to declare his betting account.”
The Victorian Racing Tribunal will hear Mitchell’s case on a date yet to be determined.
