It has to be like hitting an umpire - 10yrs if found guilty
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=40812
Printable View
It has to be like hitting an umpire - 10yrs if found guilty
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=40812
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!
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
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)
"Move along, nothing to see here!"
Really recommend everybody watches the reply of the 17/07/18 race at Shepparton in which the offence took place. The three blind mice would have drawn the same conclusion as the officiating stewards. The stewards report for the night showed they acted promptly and effectively and it was reported in more detail than most of the sanitized reports you usually read.
The needy and the greedy strike again to undermine the reputation of harness racing, this time in a tin-pot restricted race late on a winter's night. Well done gentlemen. Also note Walter's drive (Kash NZ, a mare) has not raced since. Stud, maybe.
What a farce.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
You have the situation where the police charge Walters yet the licensing committee says there is not enough evidence to stand him down.
************************************************** **********************
21 June 2019 | Harness Racing Victoria
On May 31, Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) stewards suspended the licences of a 49-year-old person from Kilmore as a result of criminal charges issued by Victoria Police.
The alleged offences arose from a race conducted at Shepparton on July 17, 2018.
In accordance with the HRV Licencing Policy (which can be viewed here), the person (who cannot be named for legal reasons) was referred to the HRV Show Cause Sub-Committee (SCSC) to determine whether he continued to meet the suitability criteria, an inherent requirement of all licenced persons.
The person remained subject to the restrictions imposed by the HRV stewards until a final determination was made concerning whether they continued to meet the suitability criteria.
On June 11, the SCSC heard submissions from the person and HRV and, after consideration, recommended that there was not sufficient evidence to deregister the person and therefore all restrictions have now been removed.
************************************************** **********************
WA stewards not messing around
Matthew Henwood gets 7yrs for Baron Jujon's positives to cocaine, benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester
http://www.harness.org.au/NEWS/news2...%20Henwood.pdf
Appealed and 9mths became 12 :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=41058
Sounds like Zac is complaining about being caught when he thought the stewards would be busy elsewhere
I don't think his tweets are going to pass HRV's media rules and I think he has some business coming up from Mildura Cup night too
From Breeder's Crown night at Melton:
Stewards accordingly imposed a 10 week suspension of Mr Hoban’s licence to drive in races and a $1000 fine. In view of the seriousness of the charge Stewards ordered the suspension commence immediately. Mr Hoban was further advised that he was required to show cause as to why Stewards should not vary his driver’s licence from a Grade A driver’s licence to a Grade B driver’s licence in accordance with Rule 90(7). Mr Hoban was provided 7 days to provide written submissions to this effect.
Mangochililime won R1 at Shep tonight and paid $63.70
The stewards column suggests the run was queried
He had been freshened up (7wks between runs) after what appeared an ordinary run
But the previous start he has won a very similar race
I guess they demand consistency
Suspensions 19 weeks in total
Race 4 M Berger R163(1)(b 7 days
Race 7 L Wills R168(1)(a) 2 weeks
Race 7 D Ferris R149(1) 6 weeks
Race 7 D Ferris R163(1)(a)(iii) 4 weeks
Race 8 I Dornauf R163(1)(a)(iii) 2 weeks
Race 10 D Thackeray R163(1)(a)(iii) 4 weeks
No wonder Vic does not post Stewards News on their site
The following snip is from the HRA site
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...ries/#stewards
Plenty of Arsenic around again
And in NSW the septic tanks is alleged to be at fault again
Kari Males only cops $750 fine for her arsenic positive ($3000 but $2250 suspended)
What about all the punters on the $1.90 fav who ran second
Here are the race details
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...19#MXC02051904
The ruling is only available as a pdf download in HRA's Steward News so you will have to look that one up yourself if interested
I had someone alert me to this one and ask the question "how are we 'encouraging' young kids to get involved"
Cobram R1 on Monday
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...19#COC11111907
Tayla French was suspended - all she did was hold the lead almost accidentally IMO and she is punished because the other two made it a fast lead time (and her horse tired badly)
From the Stewards Report
Tayla French, driver of Trade Whispers, was found guilty of a charge under AHR Rule 149(1) for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures from the start through to entering the back straight on the first occasion when there was a reasonable opportunity to obtain a trail on Ozzie Sunshine ($1.40 fav) or Eipper ($5.30 2nd fav) when both runners had gained a significant advantage over Trade Whispers shortly after the start. In failing to do so Ms French urged the gelding forward with the whip to maintain the lead and withstand the challenge of both runners recording a lead time which was 2.45 seconds quicker than the 5 year average and ultimately Trade Whispers being placed under pressure from the 1000m before yielding ground from the 600m to finish in last position beaten 77.3m. In the opinion of the Stewards the tactics adopted resulted in Trade Whispers not being afforded full opportunity to finish in its best possible placing. In determining penalty Stewards were mindful of the relevant considerations as outlined within the ‘HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines’, placing particular weight on Trade Whispers exposed form (most recent start 9th placing beaten in excess of 170m), Ms French’s driving record, the degree of culpability and her driving frequency and as such imposed a 5 week suspension of her license to drive in races which was ordered to commence at midnight on 13 November 2019.
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=CO111119
Compared to the other 2 she didn't really drive the horse out but seemed to see an opportunity when the other 2 went roughly - see more from the stewards report below. It backfired on this occasion but a Suspension??!!!!
Ozzie Sunshine (Glenn Douglas) shifted up the track shortly after the start simultaneously as Eipper (Jackson Painting) shifted in slightly, resulting in both runner racing roughly momentarily. Due to the mitigating circumstances stewards could not place blame either horse or driver and noted the incident.
It was probably a missed opportunity for Glenn Douglas but the time it is taking for them to hear the serious charges against him, he most likely will have many more ops
It would seem that at least stewards are aware of the expectations of the general public
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=41988
And evidence that leading stables are being inspected
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=MX151119
Today stable inspections were conducted at the registered training address of Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin. During this inspection a number of persons were observed performing trackwork duties without an approved body protector fitted.
Stewards accordingly imposed the following penalties under Rule 159A(7):
Emma Stewart - $200
Clayton Tonkin - $200
Vin Mahar - $200
Gerard Jamieson - $200
Ada Massa - $200
Nora Viljanen - $200
Good to see her appeal was upheldQuote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=42215
GreatGreat to see that Tayla represented herself. Noted the panel members: 2 former jockeys of the panel of 3Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
This thread is getting a bit too long to find things in so I am now closing it and creating Stewards News 2
I read this on Harness Cafe
An example of what stewards have to put up with
“What no one knows, won’t hurt them”
http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-h...r-r-g-mckenzie