Who can stop Grimson?

[Messenger]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/who-can-stop-grimson-aiken-to-take-a-shot-in-shepp-cup/

It is a telling maybe even cheeky title if you think about it.

Normally it is horses that race that have to be beaten

[Showgrounds]

I reckon Aikey is going to need better weaponry than Cranbourne.

A third-tier Kiwi open-class pacer in my view.

However, he will have been in the new stable 21 days so anything is possible.

[Messenger]

I cannot find anything on the HRA website but PP is detailing how JG has been disqualified for 12mths for the Albion Park brawl and among others Jack Trainor for 3mths

[trish]

I cannot find anything on the HRA website but PP is detailing how JG has been disqualified for 12mths for the Albion Park brawl and among others Jack Trainor for 3mths

It is on Racenet.

[trish]

The Big Bomb exploded at Menangle yesterday.

[Showgrounds]

Ben Dorries published the story on Racenet yesterday afternoon, sorry I don't have the link. And, as free steak knives, Jack Trainor copped a 3-month DQ for his contribution.

(Entering the ring without tagging your partner was a no-no in the old World Championship Wrestling days; a three-count would get you disqualified. Trainor was obviously unaware of this!)

[Messenger]

No link would work anyway Trev - Racenet is another of those who wants $20 a month off you to read their stuff
Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants you to pay nowadays - even local newspapers eg. I see a link to a Warrnambool story but cannot read it without handing over $x subscription (LOL I might not read another Warrnambool story for the year!)

[trish]

(Entering the ring without tagging your partner was a no-no in the old World Championship Wrestling days; a three-count would get you disqualified. Trainor was obviously unaware of this!)[/QUOTE]

That's funny Trevor.

[Messenger]

Unless Racenet have made it all up, it is incredible that none of our websites have reported on a Grimson disqualification.

[Yabbie]

There's an article in the Herald Sun - I read it on line this morning - ha - just found it again.
Details below as I'm pretty sure it would be behind paywall ...

Star harness racing trainer Jason Grimson disqualified for 12 months over trots brawl
A wild Albion Park brawl has been followed by a dramatic stewards’ inquiry which has seen four people cop bans from the sport.

Accusations of a star harness racing trainer being a “drug cheat’’ sparked a wild Albion Park brawl, an inquiry has heard, which has led to four participants copping lengthy bans.

Championship-winning trainer Jason Grimson has been disqualified for 12 months by stewards after pleading guilty to assaulting Brisbane Racing Club employee Adam Russo.

At the inquiry, stewards labelled Grimson’s punch on Russo, who was being held by security, “a sickening, cowardly blow’’.

Grimson was furious when informed of his 12-month ban, claiming “it’s not fair’’ and insisting there were other people throwing punches on the night who were not detected.

The nasty melee, captured on two CCTV cameras, happened after Grimson’s horse Swayzee was an upset winner of Queensland’s most prestigious race, the Blacks A Fake Championship, at Albion Park on July 22.

The video footage revealed Brisbane Broncos NRL centre and harness racing owner Kotoni Staggs was standing only metres from the fight but took no part in it.

Grimson told a stewards’ inquiry on Tuesday the forerunner to the brawl was repeated false accusations that he was a cheat, including several made by various people at Albion Park after he won the big race.

“Over the whole time (in the harness industry) I have been considered a drug cheat by integrity people and by people in the industry which has led to this,” Grimson told stewards.

“I have worked hard to get where I am, I started with nothing and then I get abused.

“All night I had comments made to me behind my back or in the toilet about me being a cheat.

“It builds up over time. It’s not just winning the Blacks A Fake, it’s before that people were saying that. Even at the presentation, people were dirty at me winning.”

The dramatic inquiry heard that the brawl started in the Creek Bar at Albion Park just after midnight when associates of Russo had allegedly taunted the Grimson clan with the cheating allegations.

Grimson claimed he only stepped into the fracas after allegedly seeing Russo strike driver Jack Callaghan and sensing his friend was “in danger”.

“He punched my mate, what was I supposed to do? Grimson asked stewards.

“When your friend is in trouble, you are going to do something about it.”

Sydney harness driver Jack Trainor was disqualified for three months after admitting throwing one punch at Russo.

Sydney owner Justin Downey, an associate of Grimson, was warned off for 12 months after pleading guilty in the inquiry to slapping Russo, the first act in a crazy series of events.

“I do deeply regret events that took place that night,” Downey told stewards.

“I apologise for what’s happened and I will cop what comes of it.”

The inquiry heard Russo started throwing punches after being struck by Downey and then Grimson grabbed Russo around the collar.

Russo, who said he ended up with “blood all over my face and a black eye”, will not be permitted on any racetrack for six months after being warned off by stewards.

Russo insisted he had never called Grimson a cheat, saying he did not follow harness racing and had only met Grimson once previously.

No criminal charges have been laid in relation to the incident.

Originally published as Star harness racing trainer Jason Grimson disqualified for 12 months over trots brawl - this appears to be the original Racenet article

[Messenger]

Thanks Carol. I have not seen the footage but it seems very harsh to me and he would no doubt be appealing.
In Victoria you can have a horse die on track, whisk it away w/o informing the stewards, bury it in an asbestos pit to evade testing AND only get 6mths
I reckon that due to the provocation - a strong suspended sentence may have been sufficient

[Messenger]

It has been put in the Stewards Wrap section of HRA News as a Stewards Report

https://www.harness.org.au/media-room/top-stories/#stewards

[Messenger]

The minimal reporting of the disqualifications is either an attempt to keep bad news from the public OR an indication of how insignificant harness racing is

Even the Harnesslink News reporting of it, is a reprint from Thoroughbred News

https://harnesslink.com/australia/two-harness-racing-trainers-disqualified-from-industry-after-club-house-brawl/

I am used to The Age never reporting anything harness but I thought the Sydney Morning Herald would, especially with the disqualified being NSW based

[Messenger]

Grimson and Trainer have both been granted Stays

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/disqualified-persons/

No news story about it - how could there be as they haven't reported the news that they have been disqualified in the first place

[Showgrounds]

The Australian harness racing media consists, by and large, of puppets for HRA and state bodies. They celebrate participants as if a history of disqualifications is a prerequisite for promoting the sport. Zero reporting by the "mainstream" trots media about their golden boys Grimson and Trainor copping DQ's let alone even being charged.

People may knock PP all they like, at least he is on the ball and calls fire at the first sign of smoke. He was onto this scandal within 48 hours of the running of the Blacks A Fake.

[trish]

[QUOTE=Messenger;75146]The minimal eporting of the disqualifications is either an attempt to keep bad news from the public OR an indication of how insignificant harness racing is

The latter IMO.
There could be some advertising gain, for HR albeit small. IMO HR sould take advantage of this & arrange a deal with the WWE to run a few tag team events at APark or Menangle between races. They could have a couple of WWE's super star wrestlers take on some Harness Racing participants which might actually see some people go to the trots.

[Messenger]

You're wicked Trish

[trish]

Killer Kowalski, my hero!!

[Messenger]

Jason Grimson and Jack Trainor have had their Disqualifications Set Aside
You will find a download option if you go to the following link

https://www.racingappealspanel.qld.gov.au/previous-decisions

(Nothing on HRA yet even though it was handed down on Tuesday)

The Decision for Jason is below

Pursuant to Section 252AH(1)(c) of the Racing Integrity Act 2016 the racing decision in so far as it relates to penalty is set aside and a fine of $15,000 together with a penalty of six months suspension, such suspension to be suspended for a period of 12 months conditioned on the Applicant not further offending against the provision of AHRR231, is substituted for the penalty of 12 months disqualification

Personally I think this is a fairer decision

[Messenger]

My No.1 Reporter spotted this:

A year ago Jason Grimson had Major Meister in the Hunter Cup

He was coming out of the Ballarat, Bendigo and Cranbourne Cups - 2 of which he won!

Tomorrow he will be going around in the Non-TAB meeting at Broken Hill for $2,100

[Messenger]

Major Meister only started 3rd favourite at Broken Hill (not much between the first three picks) but of course he won

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BR030224#BRC03022404

Now he is Mildura bound

The one I find the most interesting is Grimson's winner of the Gp2 last night - Frankie Ferocious

He is a notable Qld juvenile who has been entrusted to Grimson right from the beginning of his 4yo+ campaign
Surely this horse has to be more than a 12 month wonder

[Mytwobobsworth]

Chariots and Eureka both run on Mr Grimsons doorstep.
Win both of those big 4yo races and possibly a miricle mile if he wins chariots and he doesn’t need to last more than 12 months.
He’s the best horse that he’s ever been sent. Turns washed up old crocks into stars. What could he do with a proper horse?

[Messenger]

You sound pretty keen John. You can get at least $100 about him for the Miracle Mile - maybe we can all get rich

The $150k for winning the Chariots would not be enough on its own so the Eureka in September has to be it

[Messenger]

Frankie now in the TAB's market at $11

[trish]

Just looked at Menangle results from last night .......... wow , very impressive Jason Grimson . 8 starters , 4 winners , 2 2nds ( and they were to stable mates to winners) 1 3rd & 1 4th.

And an ex Grimson broke the 1.50.

[Messenger]

Nobody can believe he can be that good but when they made him train out of Menangle his results were just as good if not better. I do not know what they can do to restore confidence - you can not really make him do that for 3 months

[Messenger]

What is the word for when we require horses be on track 24hrs prior to the race - hmm, I thought there was a word other than quarantine or lockdown

[Messenger]

JG has had Outside Fighter for one week
Watch him win at Menangle today
I am not fussed about the time - you could argue that it was within his range
PP is suggesting that we have a look at how frisky this 7yo that has raced 145 times was

Watch his previous starts this year (including when he led but handed up) and you will see he was not the same horse

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC200224#PCC20022412

[trish]

Maybe S. Grima can .
No money for a trial but Fire Fox did it easy in 1.50. 1 at Menangle yesterday , even though Hi put in a couple of wrong steps at the start but in saying that Hi's last 1/2 would have been smart.

[Messenger]

JG has had Outside Fighter for one week
Watch him win at Menangle today
I am not fussed about the time - you could argue that it was within his range
PP is suggesting that we have a look at how frisky this 7yo that has raced 145 times was

Watch his previous starts this year (including when he led but handed up) and you will see he was not the same horse

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC200224#PCC20022412

Still no Stewards Report up for this meeting yet

[trish]

As PP states JG too good.

[Messenger]

But he says it

[trish]

Cute.

Swayzee gets the crown but does any one know where he is???

[Messenger]

What is the word for when we require horses be on track 24hrs prior to the race - hmm, I thought there was a word other than quarantine or lockdown

Retention barn :p

[Messenger]

His first run for 6mths, that was a very big win by Swayzee tonight - it was only 0.7 secs short of the Tk Rec
Cameron Hart still driving the Boots horses

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC250524#PCM25052402

[trish]

His first run for 6mths, that was a very big win by Swayzee tonight - it was only 0.7 secs short of the Tk Rec
Cameron Hart still driving the Boots horses

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC250524#PCM25052402

Yes. Big win.
It is good to see he is driving Boots horses. Regardless of what has happened, it is good to see an owner sticking by his driver. (If this is the case, looks like it).

[trish]

Yes. Big win.
It is good to see he is driving Boots horses. Regardless of what has happened, it is good to see an owner sticking by his driver. (If this is the case, looks like it).

Cameron , obviously not the case of driving the all the Boots horses, HMNIJ is in on Sat & Jack is on it & he is on the other Boots, (with other owners) horse as well. So just maybe Swayzee.

[Messenger]

Right, I was thinking he may have been on all the Boots because he drover their winner in R1 too (for Jack Trainor)

[trish]

A slect few , maybe.

[trish]

Regardless of whatever happened, loyalty is becoming less & less.
At the gallops especially.

[trish]

Notice Cameron is not driving Swayzee on Saturday night at AP.

[trish]

Jacks drive won the race at Redcliffe last night.
Good race.

[Messenger]

Yes it was Trish, I think I will post it in the LTF thread

[trish]

The race went just as I thought it would & the winner was just who I thought it could be.

[trish]

Major Moth.
Obviously a very nice horse who has simply gone to another level with J. Grimson. 1.52 & change at his 1st start for Jason & easy as. Never in all my years have I seen a better trainer.

[trish]

How long as he had this horse?

[trish]

And now Curly James but he did run 3rd in 1.48.4 at Menangle , not beaten far at all.

[Messenger]

There was an article about him being excited about these two coming to his stable

[trish]

They are both nice horses. I did see that article but Jason improves most horses that come into his stable. Unbelievable trainer.

[Messenger]

Some don't 'believe'. I think that would be because he makes Claimers into Inter winners then just as quickly they go back to running like claimers. Swayzee has shown the most longevity for him

[trish]

Not at Menangle, they can not.
4 winners tonight for Jason Grimson.
Too good.

[trish]

Goodness race 7 last night at Menangle was to bad to be true for J Grimson's horses.

[Messenger]

Was taking Swayzee off Tim Butt, one of the best owner decisions in the history of Australian harness racing?
The nearest thing to a failure in any race since, was an Inter heat 4th when held up

[trish]

Not for the owners NO!!

[Messenger]

?? Boots and Drake have remained owners Trish

[trish]

Sorry did not know that

Good on them!!

[trish]

Race 2 Menangle. Horse has run 1.57. Jason get it's runs 1.49....
Remarkable.

[Messenger]

To be fair, he has broken 1.53 when placed But a 3 second improvement in 3 weeks is a BIG improvement

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=PC231124#PCM23112406