Back in 2015 Natalie Rassmussen (Mark Purdon) bet on a stablemate in advanced betting and was injured at time but recovered in time to drive another horse in the race so she was fined for fir it
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/75410115/natalie-rasmussen-cops-fine-for-punting-against-own-driveNatalie Rasmussen has escaped with a fine despite betting against her own drive in the New Zealand Trotting Cup. (she did not escape a fine as noted below)
Rasmussen, who trains in partnership with Mark Purdon, backed Smolda to win the Group I cup in a futures market but she drove his All Stars stablemate Messini.
Rasmussen admitted three betting related charges brought against her by the Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) at a Judicial Control Authority (JCA) hearing.
The RIU accepted that at the time she placed the bet on Smolda she was injured and did not expect to drive in the Trotting Cup.
In addition to the punt on Smolda, she also faced a charge of backing her own drive, Chase The Dream to win the Sires Stakes final.
Drivers are not allowed to bet in races they are competing in. Rasmussen said she was not aware of the rule because she did not usually bet.
Rasmussen has been fined $3750 and ordered to pay costs of $350 to the the JCA after being cleared of any intent to deceive or commit a sinister act.
In relation to the first two charges which relate to a $200 bet on Smolda in the futures market at $4.00 on which was placed on October 23, Rasmussen said she thought she was no chance of driving on cup day when she placed the bet.Also, there was a race last week where a trainer had two horses in the race and put the numbers were switched as the 8 had the #3 and the #3 had the number #8. Both horses finished out of the money and the fault was laid on the stewards who are supposed to check every horse with it's brand number before every race and did not. Both drivers lised drove the correct horses even though their numbers were back asswards.
