Originally Posted by
Toohard
Do we all get a bit sick of the print media using whatever chance they get to bag harness racing? Remember the article last year re Vinnie Knight? That bloke ever back his claims up? Nope. Couldn't...all bullsh%t.
** NB ** Have no personal connection to any of those mentioned in article other than saying 'Gday' to some of them at the trots. **
Read the 'news' again. Seems like they got a short statement from Mr Perna and added all the usual crap to it. Suspected?? Reputed??
I try to cut and paste below. Tried ignore the 'suspected', 'reputed' stuff (not much left after that!) and add some comments in red. A heap of 'suspicions' and 'no evidence'. Leave us alone Fairfax et al! What a load of frog sh&t!
Law enforcement agencies have targeted a suspected crime syndicate deeply involved in Victorian horse racing and with ties to the AFL. The syndicate has wagered millions-of-dollars over the past decade on thoroughbred racing, harness racing and AFL games, often using leaked information from sport insiders.
A bunch of blokes got tips and punted on them.
The group's network includes thoroughbred and harness racing trainers, jockeys and drivers, bookmakers and AFL identities, including officials who have worked at three clubs.
A bunch of blokes got mates that work in the racing industry.
Law enforcement reports seen by Fairfax Media describe the syndicate as "heavily involved in the horse racing industry" and in suspected drug trafficking. The reports reveal the syndicate's activities were first detected a decade ago as part of a police operation codenamed Jalop which identified "drivers being paid to fix races and high profile trainers being substituted by lesser known trainers to achieve better TAB odds".
10 years ago??? Nothing done?? Maybe cause they were doing nothing wrong? Any chance we can see these ‘reports’? Why was nothing done?
Documents show those targeted by law enforcement agencies in connection with the syndicate's activities include slain gangland figure Mark Moran's brother-in-law, Paul Sequenzia, harness racing trainer John Nicholson and convicted drug trafficker Hass Tibia, who part owns a horse training facility in Sunbury.
Any chance we can see these ‘documents’? All targeted but nothing done? How come? Maybe cause they did nothing wrong?
Despite being the focus of law enforcement investigations and scrutiny by racing stewards, the syndicate's operations have not been curtailed and its betting remains significant.
They having a punt. Something illegal about that?
A betting slip belonging to Mr Sequenzia obtained by Fairfax Media reveals he turned over $93,000 in one day's betting across all major Sydney and Melbourne race meets.
He’s having a punt. Something illegal about that? How Fairfax get their hands on somebodys 'betting slip'?
The group targeted in 2004's Operation Jalop is not the only wagering syndicate suspected of using improperly leaked inside information to maximise betting returns on harness races. However, Fairfax Media can reveal that those involved in suspicious activities can soon expect far greater attention due to imminent information sharing agreements between Victoria's Racing Integrity Commissioner and three law enforcement agencies.
No mention of the other wagering syndicates? If, in fact, they existed.
And now we get to what was actually said before they implanted all the regurgitated crap above and below…
Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna told Fairfax Media on Friday that agreements to receive highly sensitive information from federal and Victorian police were "with a bit of luck, months away". An agreement with the Australian Crime Commission is already in place. Mr Perna said the ability to receive information from police, such as conversations recorded by phone taps, would help root out any criminal elements corrupting racing.
That's it! That's what he said!!! And they turned that into this article!!
And then back to the usual crap...
Mr Sequenzia, who co-owned champion Australian pacer Sushi Sushi until it was put down in April, faced court in 2004 on drug trafficking charges which were later dropped. Mr Nicholson has previously been convicted for fraud and has previously been investigated for race fixing. Another syndicate member is a stable hand banned from racing for 13 years for doping horses in 2009.
Why is any of that relevant?
Law enforcement reports into the syndicate's activities suggest it has a strong reach into the harness racing industry. One confidential report asserts that syndicate members "all have numerous betting accounts with a high turn-over wagering". Industry sources said that as the regulation and policing of thoroughbred racing strengthened in recent years, harness racing has been targeted by betting syndicates.
‘Industry sources’, ‘law enforcement reports’ (where nothing was enforced) and even a ‘confidential report’! Confidential to who? Targeted harness racing? Maybe coz of sprint lane?
Penalties for improper conduct in harness racing have been minimal. One harness driver, who is an associate of a suspected syndicate member, this year received a fine of only$2000 from Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) for serious betting offences.
Harness Racing said in a statement that police chief commissioner Ken Lay had the power to ban people from the race track and it also had the ability to disqualify people from the industry if they had been convicted of a crime. Harness Racing said it "will continue to use this power in appropriate circumstances". Syndicate members have also been targeted by customs officers for their suspected importation of chemicals used to make ecstasy and ice. Law enforcement reports reveal some members are suspected to have been "involved in the manufacture of amphetamines".
Horse ownership records show Mr Sequenzia and his associates have owned at least 30 thoroughbred or harness racing horses, including some of the nation's top trotters.
Something illegal about that?
The syndicate runs its gambling operation across multiple TAB, Betfair and other accounts and via licensed and unlicensed bookmakers, including a Sydney identity reputed to be Australia's biggest punter and SP bookmaker. The syndicate also has contacts working with or closely associated to AFL clubs, including a mid-ranking interstate club official and a former Western Bulldogs identity who left the club after concerns were raised by AFL officials. There is no evidence these AFL identities are leaking information.
So why is that relevant to the article?
Why no mention in press of BC3 and Black Caviars half brother.. oh yeh its Cup time.
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