Stewards News

[pards]

White hot

[Dot]

Not the same circumstances Pards. Alfords galloped in the shadows of the post whilst leading and the second horse was taking ground off him as they crossed the line. Melton 2yo Trotterd Breeders Crown Final 25/08/2018 if you want to take a look.

Here’s the rule

155. (1) If a horse breaks gait during a race and the Stewards are of the opinion that the horse thereby gained ground or maintained its ground or caused interference to or obtained an advantage to the detriment of another runner, the Stewards may disqualify the horse from the race or place it in a lower position.

As I wrote looked to me that Im Sir Blake was still fractionally behind the leader when he galloped so gained ground which entitles the stewards to place him in a lower position. I agree it looks rough because he certainly was going to win. Perhaps Alford and Douglas were much better advocates in the protests then Gath and Manning.

[Messenger]

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=40604

HARNESS RACING INQUIRY-24 year old female Harness Industry Participant

I bet there are plenty on the mainland who wished they could have remained anonymous when charged

[Messenger]

Catching up on some reading
I see Michael Bellman appealed his 2 week only suspension (pleading guilty helped) for a crazy drive (by both him and Nathan Weightman) at Ouyen in March and had his appeal dismissed and the penalty upped to 3 weeks
Should have left well enough alone
Lesson: Very risky to appeal when you got a guilty plea discount

[gutwagon]

I see the alleged Shepparton race fixer has had all restrictions lifted. Seemed to go unnoticed in the media.
https://www.harness.org.au/media-roo...?news_id=40691

[Messenger]

Maybe I need to change this to Stewards and Police News
Only charges at this stage but such circumventing is what many think is happening in harness too

[Messenger]

It has to be like hitting an umpire - 10yrs if found guilty

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=40812

[Showgrounds]

Breaking news in the Herald Sun (3:29pm, EST). We no longer have to hang around pubs and clubs to find out who the 49 year-old Kilmore man is:

A Victorian harness racing trainer is facing jail over the alleged corruption of a race in which he had two horses competing.

Police’s sporting integrity intelligence unit charged Robert Walters, 49, with two offences relating to race-fixing in Shepparton on July 17 last year.

The Kilmore trainer’s case was brought before Melbourne Magistrates Court for the first time but he did not attend the hearing last month.

Police allege, in charge sheets released by the court, that Mr Walters:
- Drove his horse, Kash, over the 2190m trot in a manner that did not provide it the full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing;
- Manipulated the field positions to disadvantage other horses and give the advantage to his other horse, Paddy Mach; and
- Advised an associate of his intention to “employ specific tactics” so that bets could be placed.

Mr Walters’ is facing counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome, and use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years jail.
It was not outlined what financial advantage Mr Walters received from the alleged offending.

He was driving Kash, one of his horses in the race, while another driver had charge of Paddy Mach, who won the race.
It is alleged he put Kash in a position that hindered trotter Springfield Tattoo, and cleared the way for Paddy Mach to win.
Mr Walters’ lawyer Denis Connell told the court that while his client was absent he was “taking the matters very seriously”.
He could not indicate to the court if Mr Walters would plead guilty or contest the charges.

The court heard Mr Walters was only charged on March 30 this year.
A Harness Racing Victoria stewards report, published online after last year’s race meeting, revealed they had opened an inquiry into the race and seized Mr Walters’ mobile phone for forensic analysis.
Mr Walters must attend his next court hearing on August 22.


I note the horse Paddy Mach won yesterday at Maryborough for the trainer. No comments re this case from HRV as yet.

PS: VERY interesting to note who drove the horse to win the race in question at Shepparton!

[Messenger]

To save everybody doing the search here are the links to the race and the stewards report

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...18#SPC17071809

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=SP170718

As it has developed, this matter has been mentioned in previous posts in this thread

There will not be any comments regarding this on the HRV site, only the HRA site has a Stewards News section

[Messenger]

Robert Walters has 3 in at Kilmore on Friday
You would have thought he may have been suspended as a result of the above police charges
But maybe HRV have given up on making such suspensions stick (Innocent until proven Guilty etc)