JOCKEY Nick Souquet has been suspended for nine weeks after pleading guilty to betting on thoroughbred races last year.
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He placed 10 bets last November totalling $125.
Souquet was not riding in any of the races in which he bet.
The 45-year-old's ban commenced on Monday, April 15 and ends on Tuesday, June 18.
Souquet said the ban was a bitter pill to swallow.
"I'm devastated by the whole saga," Souquet said.
"Its been a harsh lesson to learn."
Souquet can still ride track work and trials.
The talented hoop has ridden 1199 winners in a career spanning more than three decades.
Souquet said the financial impact of not riding was the least of his worries.
"Money is money," he said.
"It's not secret that jockeys are highly paid.
"I can always go and make plenty of that."
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Souquet said he would take a fortnight off.
But he planned to pick-up part-time work as a labourer to keep his weight in check and help take his mind off not being able to ride.
"I will still ride track work every morning," he said.
"But hopefully I can pick-up a bit of part-time work to give me something to fill my time in during the day.
"I just want to stay busy so I'm not thinking and dwelling on the ban all the time.
"The last thing I want to do is be sitting on my bum and feeling sorry for myself."
Souquet is the fourth Victorian rider within the past two months to be penalised for wagering on thoroughbred racing.
Daniel Schmitt was suspended until the end of the current racing season.
He was found guilty of placing 71 bets between January 2016 and September 2018 totalling $2050.
While Robertson was suspended for three months with six weeks suspended on the condition he undertakes counselling for a gambling problem.
Chris Caserta was suspended for four weeks.
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