Seventeen people, including an owner and a trainer, were indicted Thursday as
the result of an investigation into, among other things, alleged horse doping
and race fixing, according to the New York Post. Included in the indictment are
owner Gerald Uvari, 67, trainer Greg Martin, 38, and harness-racing driver Rene
Poulin, 54.
According to the Post, prosecutors said the 17 people operated a ring that
has allegedly brokered millions in illegal bets over four years and fixed a race
in 2003. Uvari and other members of his family were identified as being part of
the ring and are reputedly tied to organized crime.
The race fixing involved a six-year-old gelding named A One Rocket in the 1ST
race at Aqueduct on December 18, 2003. The horse had been off with an injury for
10 months and returned to competition on November 21, 2003, but finished eighth.
He was dropped down in class and nosed out a win on December 13, then was
brought back five days later to win by 10 lengths as the 9-5 second favorite.
According to the Post, prosecutors said the win came after the horse was
doped.