Trainer Smerdon fined over Oliver scandal Trainer Robert Smerdon has been fined A$10,000 (HK79,600 for his involvement in the Australian illegal betting scandal of jockey Damien Oliver, Racing Victoria said yesterday. Oliver was banned in November for 10 months after admitting to placing a A$10,000 bet via a third party on a rival horse. Smerdon was charged for passing on the proceeds of the bet to Oliver and a three-man Racing Appeals and Disciplinary board found his conduct prejudicial to the image of racing. Oliver admitted to placing the bet on favourite Miss Octopussy in a race in October 2010. Miss Octopussy won the race while Oliver's mount finished sixth. Jockeys are forbidden from betting on any races in Australia. Reuters Basketball great Larry Bird's son arrested American basketball great Larry Bird's son has been arrested after police said he tried to run over his ex-girlfriend with a car in Bloomington, Indiana. Conner Anthony Bird, 21, faces preliminary charges including intimidation with a deadly weapon, battery with injury and possession of marijuana. Indiana University police arrested Bird on Sunday morning. They say his ex-girlfriend told an officer that Bird threw a cellphone at her and drove his car at her during an argument. A police report said university police arrested Bird after tracking down his vehicle. Bird is a student at the university. AP Windies beat Aussie second-stringers Johnson Charles set the West Indies on course for a big total and Kieron Pollard took three late wickets to guide the Twenty20 cricket world champions to a 27-run win over an understrength Australia in a one-off match in Brisbane yesterday. Charles scored 57 from 48 balls as the West Indies posted 191 for six. With Australia's test squad already in India, the second-string line-up were always under pressure. AP
