Equine vet’s address used in national betting scam

An equine vet has uncovered a betting scam using her practice address and has issued a warning to potential victims.

Sally Rackham, who runs Hawkedon Veterinary Surgery near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has received mail relating to Hawkendon Blood Stock Agents.

She became concerned after receiving more than 50 undelivered letters from the company and people wanting money they claimed to be owed.

“My address is being used in a scam and I am concerned it could be associated with us,” said Mrs Rackham.

Her practice is in Rede Road, Hawkedon, while the other company address is given as Reed Road, Bury St Edmunds.

The original letters asked recipients to place bets on the company’s behalf in return for a fee as the firm, incorrectly, says it is illegal to back its own horses.

“Now I’m getting letters from people agreeing to put on money,” said Mrs Rackham.

The correspondence suggests people placed bets up to £2,700 that were never reimbursed.

Suffolk Police confirmed it had investigated the case and passed the details on to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

BHA spokesman Turia Tellwright said: “Since May 2008, we have received a number of letters from bloodstock groups, seemingly from the same source, but as these individuals are not involved in racing, we do not have the jurisdiction to regulate their actions.”

Hawkendon Blood Stock Agents did not return our calls.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (25 February, ’10)

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