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08-24-2018, 11:39 PM
Breaking story in the Herald Sun is sure to chuck a cat amongst the pidgeons at HRV. Take from the story what you will but I have lost a lot of interest in the game over the years as the sport's administration has become more centralised and "professional". Seems the Maryborough club thinks the same way!
"Harness racing club charged with secretly stashing $1 million
Stephen Drill, Herald Sun
August 24, 2018 6:35pm
Subscriber only
HARNESS Racing Victoria is in turmoil after a country *racing club hid almost $1 million from it.
Maryborough Harness Racing Club president Peter Egan and secretary Les Chapman have been charged under racing rules for concealing the money.
But they have claimed that Harness Racing Victoria chief executive David Martin asked them to resign to avoid an *investigation.
Les Chapman of the Maryborough Harness Racing Club. Picture: Maryborough District Advertiser
They also claim he asked for a $150,000 donation to other clubs from the hidden money.
Mr Chapman told the *Herald Sun he would fight the charges.
“David Martin said that if we were to resign at the (October 2017) annual general meeting and don’t say a word to anybody, then no *action would be taken,” Mr Chapman said.
“He said, ‘If you don’t, we will investigate and bring in other bodies to investigate’.” The Herald Sun understands Mr Martin denies those claims.
The secret pot of money, squirrelled since about 1984, was gathered from returns from the TAB. Before it was privatised, the TAB would hand over the few cents to *racing clubs from winning bets on which it rounded down *payouts to the nearest 5c.
The Maryborough club put the money into a term deposit account and reinvested the total every year.
The account grew substantially, partly as a result of high interest rates in the late 1980s, and totalled $906,475 by 2015, when the club acknowledged the secret cash.
The account was never *discussed at board meetings, the club fearing HRV would seize the cash.
HRV hired accountants to investigate in 2015. They found there had been no personal gains. but Consumer Affairs Victoria disclosure laws may have been breached.
Mr Chapman said the club was being penalised for running a sustainable operation. “The money was clean and it is owned by the Maryborough Harness Racing Club,” he said.
“It’s very disappointing the board of Harness Racing Victoria has gone down this road.”
In February 2016, the club was ordered to pay $50,000 *towards governance training for all clubs as a punishment for the hidden money.
An HRV stewards investigation was reopened in November last year, with charges handed down to Mr Egan and Mr Chapman on August 8. The hearing will be on October 10 at Flemington.
HRV said in a statement: “As this matter is currently *before Harness Racing Victoria’s Integrity Council, it would be inappropriate to comment.”
"Harness racing club charged with secretly stashing $1 million
Stephen Drill, Herald Sun
August 24, 2018 6:35pm
Subscriber only
HARNESS Racing Victoria is in turmoil after a country *racing club hid almost $1 million from it.
Maryborough Harness Racing Club president Peter Egan and secretary Les Chapman have been charged under racing rules for concealing the money.
But they have claimed that Harness Racing Victoria chief executive David Martin asked them to resign to avoid an *investigation.
Les Chapman of the Maryborough Harness Racing Club. Picture: Maryborough District Advertiser
They also claim he asked for a $150,000 donation to other clubs from the hidden money.
Mr Chapman told the *Herald Sun he would fight the charges.
“David Martin said that if we were to resign at the (October 2017) annual general meeting and don’t say a word to anybody, then no *action would be taken,” Mr Chapman said.
“He said, ‘If you don’t, we will investigate and bring in other bodies to investigate’.” The Herald Sun understands Mr Martin denies those claims.
The secret pot of money, squirrelled since about 1984, was gathered from returns from the TAB. Before it was privatised, the TAB would hand over the few cents to *racing clubs from winning bets on which it rounded down *payouts to the nearest 5c.
The Maryborough club put the money into a term deposit account and reinvested the total every year.
The account grew substantially, partly as a result of high interest rates in the late 1980s, and totalled $906,475 by 2015, when the club acknowledged the secret cash.
The account was never *discussed at board meetings, the club fearing HRV would seize the cash.
HRV hired accountants to investigate in 2015. They found there had been no personal gains. but Consumer Affairs Victoria disclosure laws may have been breached.
Mr Chapman said the club was being penalised for running a sustainable operation. “The money was clean and it is owned by the Maryborough Harness Racing Club,” he said.
“It’s very disappointing the board of Harness Racing Victoria has gone down this road.”
In February 2016, the club was ordered to pay $50,000 *towards governance training for all clubs as a punishment for the hidden money.
An HRV stewards investigation was reopened in November last year, with charges handed down to Mr Egan and Mr Chapman on August 8. The hearing will be on October 10 at Flemington.
HRV said in a statement: “As this matter is currently *before Harness Racing Victoria’s Integrity Council, it would be inappropriate to comment.”