NCJ Number
35120
Date Published
Unknown
Length
97 pages
Annotation
THIS TWO-PART REPORT CONTAINS THE FINDINGS OF THE 1972 HEARINGS OF THE U.S. HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CRIME ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORGANIZED CRIME AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
Abstract
ALSO INCLUDED ARE THE FINDINGS OF A RESEARCH STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZED CRIME AND RELATED ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES ON LEGALIZED HORSE BETTING. THIS RESEARCH STUDY WAS COMMISSIONED IN RESPONSE TO VIRGINIA'S PLANS TO CONSIDER THE AUTHORIZATION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING ON HORSE RACING. PART ONE OF THIS REPORT CONTAINS THE PREFACE TO THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE'S FINAL REPORT AND SUMMARIES OF ITS CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TOGETHER WITH ADDITIONAL AND SEPARATE VIEWS OF SOME OF THE COMMITTEE'S MEMBERS WHO TOOK EXCEPTION TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE COMMITTEE'S STUDY. THE CATEGORIES OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES DISCUSSED ARE HIDDEN OWNERSHIP OF TRACK OR RACING ASSOCIATION INTEREST, HIDDEN OWNERSHIP OF HORSES, RACE FIXING, SUBSTITUTION OF HORSES, TEN PERCENTERS AND TWIN DOUBLES, ILLEGAL BOOKMAKING, AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION. THE REPORT CONCLUDED THAT ITS HEARINGS HAD DISCLOSED SOME SHOCKING INCIDENTS OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, IN GENERAL, THE HORSE TRACKS ARE OPERATED WITH INTEGRITY AND THE INDUSTRY IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE. TWO SETS OF RECOMMENDATIONS - ONE FOR FEDERAL ACTION AND ONE FOR STATE ACTION - ARE PRESENTED. THE RESEARCH STUDY INVOLVED REVIEW OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE FINDINGS AND INTERVIEWS WITH STATE RACING, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTIVE, AND TRACK SECURITY OFFICIALS. WITH MINOR EXCEPTIONS THOSE CONTACTED WERE UNAWARE OF ANY HARD CORE ORGANIZED CRIME INVOLVEMENT IN RACING. SPECIFIC FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED ON BOOKMAKING, HIDDEN OWNERSHIP OF RACE TRACKS AND HORSES, DRUGGING OF HORSES, ELECTRONIC DEVICES, COLLUSION AMONG OWNERS, TRAINERS, JOCKEYS, AND DRIVERS, SUBSTITUTION OF HORSES, AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION.