Bunch of Idjits

A man accused of opening a fake horse-racing business appeared in the Bellville Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday.

Jacques Giueseppe Mangiagalli, 41, from Parow was told to appear in court again on January 28.

Prosecutor Faith Jason-Twala alleged that he fraudulently opened a business, National Racing Services.

In April, he allegedly placed an advertisement in Die Burger newspaper offering investment opportunities that would double investors' capital within 90 days.

He placed a second advert in May in the same newspaper, claiming investors could earn a fixed income for five years.

It said a R100 000 investment would yield R6 500 per month, R250 000 would provide the investor with a fixed monthly income of R20 000 and a R500 000 investment would yield a monthly income of R50 000.

The minimum investment permitted was R100 000.

Six victims

Jason-Twala named six victims - Robert Wheeler, Casparus Rossouw, Louis Marais, Maria Kroese, Pieter Walters and Johannes de Bruyn.

She alleged that Mangiagalli lied to the victims and told them he was the owner of National Racing Services and he was in the business of buying and selling race horses.

The State alleged that he falsely informed them, through his business, that he was able to place bets on race horses and invest their money.

Jason-Twala further alleged that Mangiagalli had no intention of investing the amounts advertised and he was not entitled to use investments for his own personal gain.

The two adverts were allegedly not legitimate nor was the accused entitled to place bets for clients or accept their money for betting.

I always wondered how to spell idjits. Thanks for that.

There was an infamous incident in the U. S. about a dozen or so years ago in which a con man formed racing partnerships of horses that he made up out of thin air.

He gave them pedigrees that he made up.

In the U. S., all of what you folks refer to as "gallops" are timed by paid clockers and these "workouts" appear in print everyday in our Daily Racing Form (comparable to Sporting Post).

He was able to keep this going for more than 6 years.

All anybody with any sort of brain had to do was a) ask to see one of them in person (he mailed out photos); b) check with The Jockey Club; c) read a Daily Racing Form, etc.

Six years and not one person suspected or acted upon a suspicion.

Spot the Wallies

lol

A certain KZN trainer who no longers trains, by popular request, around 10 years ago was in the habit of putting together syndicates where the various small percentages added up to around 120%.He was the syndicate representative of course. The animals were useless ( much like many of mine ) and couldn't get out of their own way. That was until one of them won at long odds at Greyville, and the lead in looked like a loose maul at a rugby match.

lol

sly & gajima:

Just proves how much of ignorance is out there about horseracing/betting returns! Also, the opportunities that exist to take the sports to the people!

Barry - now I know what virtual racing means. Thanks for clearing that up. Lol.

Idjits...good one Sylvester

Apologies for going of on a tangent.

But I guess, Malema would probably pronounce it as Idjots.

Another word to add, to the new, Sefrican dickshannery...eengleesh, as she is spawken.

Politeeks...the bane of our lives (or should it be Polly talks...in reference to the parrots).

However, us Sefricans will not be out done.

We have our own exclusive bunch of Idjots...they currently reside in parliament, and they are continually trying to outdo each other, so yes there is progress.

sylvester, the most amazing thing is he found 6, yes 6 investors with a spare R100 000.....so they are out there mate!

Out there? they probably post on the forum

lol