Any person who gives, promises or offers to any jockey, driver, groom or any person participating in any race meeting, including owners of racetracks and their employees, stewards, trainers, judges, starters and special policemen, any valuable thing with intent to influence him to attempt to lose or cause to be lost a horse race in which such person is taking part or expects to take part, or has any duty or connection, or who, being either jockey, driver, or groom or participant in a race meeting, solicits or accepts any valuable thing to influence him to lose or cause to be lost a horse race in which he is taking part, or expects to take part, or has any duty or connection, shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.