PP is very suspicious of the Yole stables wins at Cranbourne last night - especially of 'rubber neck' Walters who he thinks is the conductor
The stable only contested 3 races and won all three
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=CR160423
Printable View
PP is very suspicious of the Yole stables wins at Cranbourne last night - especially of 'rubber neck' Walters who he thinks is the conductor
The stable only contested 3 races and won all three
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=CR160423
It amazes me Walters still has a licence when you weigh up his past misdemeanours.
If you want to see the full extent of the sad joke that is the Yole stable, check out Friday night's Hobart fields.
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=EH140423
72 starters, 60 from the Yole stable! For all the stable's dominance it has driven so many long-term participants out of the sport. It is beyond a joke.
Google Maps suggest it is a 3 hour drive from Sidmouth, where Yole's horses are "stabled", to Elwick racecourse. I would suggest this is closer to 4 hours when transporting horses yet animal welfare on raceday does not seem to be on the agenda.
RACE 1– TREVOR PETRIE REAL ESTATE PACE (1710 MS)
A stable return was lodged subsequent to the publication of the racebook listing Ben Yole as the trainer of Kitch Macray.
Southern Gnp NZ underwent pre and post-race veterinary examinations pursuant to HRV horse welfare policy with no abnormalities detected.
Robert Walters was not listed in the racebook as the driver of Southern Gnp NZ.
Ryan Duffy was not listed in the racebook as the driver of Star Ruler NZ.
Bailey McDonough (Sugoi Alto) was fined $200 pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a) for his whip action which was more than a wrist only flicking motion.
Declan Murphy (Aerodyne Guy) was fined $200 pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a) for his whip action which was more than a wrist only flicking motion.
Stewards adjourned an inquiry into the number of whip strikes used by driver Taylor Youl (Kitch Macray) and as to her leaving the course without attending the Stewards room when required to do so.
Stewards inquired into the actions of driver Robert Walters (Southern Gnp NZ ) rounding the home turn near the 300m and then again early in the home straight. After taking evidence from drivers Ross Graham (Self Exclusion) and Mr Walters, acting on their own observations and after viewing the official race replays Stewards charged Mr Walters pursuant to Rule 168(1)(e) “ A driver shall not drive in a manner which is in the opinion of Stewards:- (e) improper. The particulars of the charge were twofold, firstly that Mr Walters, as the driver of Southern Gnp NZ, had from the 300m after driver Ross Graham (Self Exclusion) had left his pegline trailing position and commenced to improve forward to the outside of Southern Gnp NZ and towards the back of Kitch Macray, Mr Walters then called out to Ms Youl, the driver of his stablemate Kitch Macray on several occasions in regards to Mr Graham’s horse improving behind her. The second limb of the charge was that after entering the home straight Mr Walters pulled his right rein on several occasions causing his drive Southern Gnp NZ to shift up the track into the running of Mr Graham’s drive Self Exclusion, which was racing between runners and improving forwards and about to progress past Southern Gnp NZ, resulting in Self Exclusion being inconvenienced. Mr Walters pleaded not guilty to the charge however after giving due consideration to all of the evidence Stewards formed the opinion that Mr Walters driving actions were improper. In determining penalty Stewards took into consideration published HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines, that there were two limbs to the charge, Mr Walters not guilty plea, his driving frequency and offence record and the consequences of his actions. Mr Walters licence to drive in races was suspended for a period of four months to commence at midnight 4 May 2023. Mr Walters was apprised of his right to appeal. Mr Walters was also cautioned for driving with his body outside the confines of the sulky whilst leading the race.
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=BA260423
The stable know they are being closely observed but refuse to pull their head in.
No doubt Mr Walters will appeal and thus be driving for a couple of years before we get a conclusion
The race
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...23#BAC26042304
It is going to be a trying time, waiting for Walters' appeal to be heard
PP this morning highlights his role in R1 & R2 at Hamilton yesterday
Hard to prove anything in R2 but the stewards could have done more than warn him about shifting out in R1 when he seems to be concerned with protecting his stablemate
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=HM010523
Race 1 looked red-hot. As soon as young Murphy showed an inclination to make his move Walters through everything at his horse to make sure the eventual winner was pushed 4 deep. Then, around the turn, he made no effort at all to check his drive from wandering up the track. He effectively forced the winner 5 wide upon straightening which allowed the stablemate to skip away. Fortunately, the winner was too good. In the second race, his wobble-headed tactics did not draw comment, but his intent appeared pretty obvious. Not to the stewards, though.
The stewards need to have another look at these two races.
The last race at Shep tonight has a Tasmanian look to it with Yole having 6 of the 10 including 1-4
plus one of his regular drivers on the only non-Yole runner in the market (brave trainer)
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...23#SPC02052304
I have heard that there was a fair dinkum barney in public view after R10 at Bendigo on Tuesday night
It is rumoured that the trainer of the fav was not too happy with being forced to go 27.9 for Q1 by a $150 pop
A representative of the Yole stable, currently still involved thanks to a pending appeal, was supposed to be on the receiving end
You will note there is an INQADJ
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...23#BNC13062312
No rumour it would seem - it gets a line in the Stewards Report
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=BN130623
After his treble tonight, Ben Yole is now 2nd leading trainer in Victoria by wins
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...-premierships/
Young workers having to fight for their rights after the float accident
It is my view that the evidence in this case compels a conclusion that the worker was injured in the course of his employment.
The employer’s s 81A referral is therefore dismissed. I determine that the worker is entitled to workers compensation benefits in accordance with the terms of the Act and I make orders pursuant to s 81A(3)(a) and (b) of the Act.
Ben Yole Racing Pty Ltd v C [2023] TASCAT 202 (30 October 2023)
https://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/.../2023/202.html
TASCAT has correctly exposed Mr Yole's Tasmanian operation for what it is; an unlawful and exploitive employer. That, without mentioning what has already been exposed.
It will be interesting to see where any Police or Department of Transport investigation goes. Already, Police have the driver of the Ford Ranger in their sights for towing an overweight load. I'd like to follow the papertrail as to how a three horse float came to be modified to cram-in five horses. Engineering certification? Hmm. The GCM of a Ford Ranger would be marginal, at best, once the weight of three horses are added. Another two horses, all of the racing gear and the full compliment of compliment of a driver and four passengers made the combination an accident waiting to happen.
Unfortunately, that "accident", totally avoidable with responsible employers, did happen.
The driver has been charged with:
Two counts of causing grievous bodily harm to another person by negligent driving
Three counts of failing to ensure passengers were wearing a seat belt
Driving without due care and attention (feel asleep at the wheel??? was around 2am)
Using a vehicle in contravention of vehicle standards, in that the horse float did not have brakes
She will front Launceston Magistrates Court on January 19, 2024.
The vehicle registration for the float expired almost two years before the crash.
Thanks for that summary. Ponder those charges and facts and ask yourself "what could possibly go wrong?"
Under the road rules the driver gets the book thrown at them. However, I am more curious as to who owns the unregistered, unroadworty float, who directed that it be used to transport the horses, who owned the Ford Ranger and who directed the driver to drive to Elwick Racecourse and back. I have a strong feeling this might be the same person who denied responsibility for Cody Crossland's injury claims.
The truck driver (not fit to drive mind you) who killed 4 police officers was jailed for 22yrs reduced to 18˝yrs and we are still waiting to see whether his bosses who pleaded guilty 6mths ago, are sentenced or only fined. The maximum they can get is only 5yrs for recklessly exposing people to injury or death.
True, Kev. The Yole "accident" is a little different in the employer has been denying most in the accident were employees and, on the day, had gone to the races without his direction. in the case of Crossland, TASCAT has called BS to Yole's story. It will be most interesting to see what agencies other than Police do prior to the charges being heard in January. Any defence lawyer worthy of a teabag would be seeking an adjournment to prevent the Police charges being heard in isolation.
Race 2 Wagga Friday.
He has 8 of the 9 runners in this race.
He has certainly spread his territory from just Tassie, then Vic
One additional problem I see with his monopolizing fields is - Do you need anymore than your fingers to count how many Ben Yole fans there are out there?
And the only runner not trained by Mr Yole is the sole horse on the back line. Wonder what the instructions will be to the driver of that horse?
In WA if a trainer has multiple runners they are supposed to advise the Stewards of the driving instructions, does that happen elsewhere?
Yes Daniel
PP is reporting that yole etc's appeal has been denied.
Why is this not on a harness racing site .
Why do we always have to read these things on PP's site?
Thank God for PP. We will set a place at our table for him if ever he decides to come down.
I wonder what has happened to all the horses on the property? We might have to ask AB that too.
And why don’t the journalists in the sport cover this story more assertively? I appreciate that they are on the payroll of the racing administrators but aren’t they obligated to from a professional point of view. Isn’t it one of the biggest stories of the last 10 years (at least) in our sport?
I just looked at Taz fields for Sun & some are transferred from one yole to another yole.
So maybe they are being trained from there??
But I don't know .
I am not sure but IMO journalists do not like writing anything that could sound negative.
At least with PP or AB , you get some realism. And a lot of 1st stories as well.
Yeas that is true re AB. Regarding the journalists not writing anything negative about the sport, why is that? Is it because they are on the payroll (most I guess are) or are they not wanting to upset their trainer/owner friends? The Darren Weir story was well reported and continues to be so to this day. That involved only three or four horses. This involves so many more and numerous other areas.
Good to hear that the horses have been transferred.
PP is right - that allowing Ben Yole to transfer his horses to father Wayne Yole is not on but how do you prevent it?
You really have to wonder about major owners Solotrek and Aaron Bain/Summit too
I am not sure why this has been is allowed.........., but realistically , "same o'l same o'l " . We've seen and complained about it in every other harness racing state . Why not Tas ? And they still wonder why harness racing is imploding !!! They'll have a meeting about harness racing soon and ask participants what can be done to build confidence back in the sport . GIVE ME A BREAK
The ABC achieved significant recognition at the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Awards held on Wednesday, 21 February 2024 with two of its investigative reports receiving top accolades.
One was for a team from ABC News Tasmania, was awarded for “Best coverage of a community sport issue – rural & regional media”.
Their investigative piece, titled “Stacking the Odds: Inside a Tasmanian harness racing juggernaut,” shed light on pressing concerns within the Tasmanian harness racing scene, prompting the Ray Murrihy inquiry. This inquiry later unveiled critical issues plaguing the industry.
PP is reporting that the TasRAB has quashed the Warning Off due to a denial of natural justice
He has documents to that effect on his site - I do not know where he has found them as on the TasRAB site, all I can find is the following
https://nre.tas.gov.au/racing/tasman...urrent-appeals
There is nothing on HRA that I can spy
So does that mean the report is wrong?
TasRacing should not have/cannot warn people off as that is the role of stewards and when stewards do this, the people have the right to be heard at an inquiry
So you would think they would just start again - charges/inquiry BUT the question will be whether the stuff up has irrevocably destroyed their chances of a fair hearing
Did the report touch on the horses welfare?
Do you think that these horses will have to wait for the fair hearing ?
It would also have to fall under the RSPCA surely
TasRacing may have overreached regarding their power but hopefully the stewards will now visit Mr Yole on a daily basis
If the Stewards did visit daily this could be considered harassment and could weaken the case. Has Yole or the others actually been charged with anything yet? All that has been done is a report which says he/they have breached the rules in several areas, as far as I understand.
What is HRA doing to ensure that this doesn’t happen again re stockpiling horses due to the NR system (race to the bottom approach)? What about the owners responsibility? Where does it sit?
If you can require a trainer to move his stable to Menangle so that they can be under constant observation
I don't think you need to worry about visiting a stable for inspection even daily esp if it is a result of a report that was scathing of their practices
Any case will be judged on hard evidence
PP states that how can b yole have horses racing this week. I agree with him. So we need an answer.
Who do we ask?
Are there any journalists that harness racing officialdom are answerable to (not that any ask PP's questions) so I don't like our chances Trish. Trainers and Drivers Associations would have a lot of clout but do they ever use it?