Scandals and Crime

Poker pro Cory Zeidman faces fraud and conspiracy charges related to an alleged sports betting scheme. (Image: Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Poker)

Poker Pro Cory Zeidman Faces Fraud Charges for Sports Betting Scheme

World Series of Poker bracelet winner Cory Zeidman faces federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in relation to a sports betting operation that took more than $25 million from alleged victims of the scam. Police arrested Zeidman on Wednesday, […]

Santi Mina is playing for Celta Vigo in the Spanish La Liga. (Image: football-espana.com)
Santi Mina

Celta Striker Santi Mina to Appeal 4-Year Sentence for Sexual Assault

Celta Vigo’s Santi Mina has been sentenced to four years in jail after being found guilty of sexual assault. The Provincial Court of Almeria announced the verdict on Wednesday. Mina has the right to appeal the sentence at the Spanish Supreme Court. Following the verdict, Celta suspended Mina from its […]

Medina Spirit warming up before his final race: the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. The Bob Baffert trainee died in December, nearly five months before Baffert lost a final legal appeal to stay his 90-day suspension. (Image: Anne M. Eberhardt)

Baffert’s 90-Day Suspension Starts Monday After Latest Court Setback

One of embattled trainer Bob Baffert’s last legal Hail Marys was swatted aside Friday when the Kentucky Court of Appeals denied his motion for an emergency stay of his 90-day suspension by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, which first reported the story, that means […]

Trainer Tim Yakteen has worked for two Hall of Fame trainers in Bob Baffert and Charlie Whittingham. He has never trained a Kentucky Derby horse, a streak that may end this year with the transfer of three Baffert prospects to his barn. (Image: Yakteen Racing)

It’s on: Baffert Transfers Four Derby Prospects to Other Barns

With a tick more than six weeks remaining until the Kentucky Derby, suspended trainer Bob Baffert finally moved four of his Derby prospects to other trainers. Provided the horses receive enough points in their impending final Derby preps, the move makes them eligible for the May 7 Derby. The Los […]

Bob Baffert may have to clear out his deep Santa Anita Park barn if his appeal is turned down. He suffered another legal blow Monday when his stay for a suspension was rejected. (Image: Zoe Metz Photography)

Bob Baffert’s Latest Appeal Denied by Kentucky Court

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert suffered another legal setback Monday in his bid to keep his considerable stable running when a Kentucky judge denied a stay of his 90-day suspension. The suspension, $7,500 fine, and forfeiture of Kentucky Derby winnings by Amr Zedan, the owner of the late Medina […]

Tuesday morning, Churchill Downs' workers literally take down the sign marking Medina Spirit's 2021 Kentucky Derby victory. (Image: Coady Photography)

Mandaloun Illustrates New Sign of the Times at Churchill Downs:

Churchill Downs officials wasted little time putting cosmetic touches on what they hope is a concrete decision. On Tuesday, the track’s staff replaced Medina Spirit’s nameplate with the now-official 2021 Kentucky Derby champion: Mandaloun. The 3-year-old Kentucky Derby king is dead — literally in the late Medina Spirit’s case, and […]

Medina Spirit's half-length victory over Mandaloun in last year's Kentucky Derby was overturned Monday. Mandaloun was declared the official winner after Medina Spirit was disqualified for a drug violation. (Image: Coady Photography)

Stewards Strip Medina Spirit of 2021 Kentucky Derby Title

After nine months, numerous fits and starts and several legal challenges, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards disqualified Medina Spirit as winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The Monday decision came as a result of Medina Spirit failing a drug test for the banned-on-race day, anti-inflammatory betamethasone. Along with the ruling, […]

Crown Resorts   (Image: William West/Getty)

Casino Roundup: Crown Buyout, Wynn Leaseback and Sands Junk Rating

Crown Resorts accepted a $6.4 billion buyout bid from Blackstone, a private equity firm. Just days after the news, the Australian casino company reported a $141 billion loss for the last six months of 2021. In other casino news, a credit agency cut Las Vegas Sands’ debt rating, while Wynn […]

Mason Greenwood has been arrested on Sunday, after sensitive images and recordings were made public by his girlfriend on social media. (Image: Twitter/purelyfootball)

Man. United Star Mason Greenwood in Custody on Suspicion of Rape and Assault

Police have been granted additional time to question Manchester United’s attacker Mason Greenwood, who was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of rape and assault. The 20-year-old remains detained following a social media post from his girlfriend denouncing him. Greater Manchester police confirmed he will be questioned further. “Detectives have been […]

Medina Spirit takes it all in Derby week last April. The late Derby champion will get a steward's hearing with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regarding his Derby win Feb. 7. (Image: Pat McDonogh/Courier-Journal)

Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Derby Hearing Scheduled for Feb. 7

During his testimony in the ongoing hearing regarding his eligibility to run at New York Racing Association tracks, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Thursday that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has scheduled a Feb. 7 hearing involving Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. Baffert testified for three hours during the fourth day […]

Disgraced trainer Jorge Navarro was sentenced to five years in prison Friday for doping racehorses. (Image: Gulfstream Park)

Judge Sentences Trainer Jorge Navarro to Five Years for Horse Doping

Former trainer Jorge Navarro, one of the pivotal figures in a federal investigation into alleged doping of Thoroughbreds, was sentenced to the maximum five years in prison Friday. Along with the sentence, Navarro was ordered to pay more than $26.8 million in restitution. That figure represents the amount of earnings his […]

Macau casinos (Image: Chris McGrath/Getty)

Junket Operator’s Arrest Drives Macau Casino Stocks Down

Macau casino stocks tanked this week after the arrest of 11 junket operators. Alvin Chau, Suncity Group Holdings’ CEO, was among those detained. The region’s casino stocks were already struggling due to new virus concerns, but the specter of more regulatory crackdowns pushed them lower still. During the ’08-’09 financial […]

Juventus is struggling on and off the pitch this season. (Image: Twitter/juventusfc)

Italy Finance Police Investigate Juventus over Transfer Activity

Italian finance authorities raided Juve’s offices in Turin and Milan, seeking papers relating to player moves between 2019 and 2021. Juventus is Italy’s most successful club, winning 36 Serie A titles. Juve is listed on Milan’s stock exchange and its largest shareholder is Exor. Anna Maria Loreto, a Turin prosecutor, […]

Moshe Hogeg talking to the Beitar Jerusalem fans before an Israeli league match. (Image: Twitter/middeeasteye)

Beitar Jerusalem Owner Arrested in Massive Crypto Fraud Case

The owner of Beitar Jerusalem in the Israeli Premier League has been arrested alongside seven others on charges of cryptocurrency fraud. According to the Israeli Police, the estimated worth of the fraud reaches hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars. Moshe Hogeg, the boss of Beitar, was held in the early […]

PSG won 4-0 against Real Madrid in the Champions League, with Diallo starting for the French giants. (Image: Twitter/PSG_Feminines)

PSG Women’s Team Member Held in Violent Attack on Teammate

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Aminata Diallo is in police custody after an assault on one of her teammates on the women’s team. An attack that occurred last Thursday led to Diallo’s arrest. The midfielder was taken into custody on Wednesday by the Versailles Police. 31-year-old Kheira Hamraoui, another midfielder, was allegedly […]

Trainer Bob Baffert's Medina Spirit wired the field in the Grade 1 Awesome Again earlier this month. The star Baffert colt -- as well as his other Breeders' Cup entries -- will be allowed to run in the championships at Del Mar next month. (Image: Ernie Belmonte)

Breeders’ Cup Allows Baffert’s Horses to Run with Extra Conditions

After a nearly month-long “review process” on Bob Baffert’s status, Breeders’ Cup officials announced on Sunday that the Hall of Fame trainer can enter this year’s Nov. 5-6 event at Del Mar, with certain conditions. Those conditions include extra testing of his entries, which Baffert will pay for, along with […]