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Jockey, 2 others indicted in Tampa Bay Downs bribery case

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The Associated Press

Published: May 6, 2009

Updated: 05/06/2009 08:11 pm

TAMPA - A jockey and two other men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Michigan for what authorities say was a conspiracy to fix races at Tampa Bay Downs and other horse racing tracks around the country.

Ricardo Alfredo Valdes, 43, of Ocala, was indicted today on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit sports bribery.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit says Ghazi Manni and Mitchell Edward Karam paid Valdes and other jockeys so the pair could gather inside information and try to influence the results at Tampa Bay Downs, Delaware Park in Stanton, Del., and Great Lakes Downs in Muskegon, Mich.

The wire fraud charge stems from 167 telephone conversations Manni and Karam had with Valdes over the course of a year. The three men are accused of fixing thoroughbred horse races at those three tracks from December 2005 to December 2006, according to the indictment filed today by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morris.

Manni and Karam paid Valdes to "use less than his best efforts to win a race . . . to influence the order of finish of various thoroughbred horse races held in Florida," the court document states. Valdes is also accused of trying to recruit or bribe other jockeys.

If convicted, the men could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud.

"No comment, but we are aware of the story,'' said Margo Flynn, vice president of public relations for Tampa Bay Downs.

In December 2006, Valdes was one of six jockeys banned by Tampa Downs from racing at its track. Track officials never gave a public statement on the reason behind the ban, except to say that it stemmed from an ongoing investigation by the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau.

The Jockeys Guild in January of this year sent a letter to the Thoroughbred Racing Association and officials of three tracks, including Tampa Bay Downs _ protesting the "unlawful and harmful'' expulsion of several riders.

Today, Terry Meyocks, national manager of the Jockeys Guild, said the organization is aware of the indictment but does not plan any direct involvement in the case except to make sure due process is followed.

"Indicted doesn't mean convicted,'' Meyocks said.

Manni and Karam, along with six other men, are also accused of a point-shaving scheme involving the University of Toledo's football and basketball teams. Manni and Karam were indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. Valdes was not a participant in the alleged point-shaving scam, federal prosecutors say.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at 813-259-7920. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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