Detectives investigating claims of harness race-fixing last night made arrests in Melbourne at the sport’s biggest meeting of the year.
Police detained several industry figures, including top trainer-driver Nathan Jack, at the Breeders Crown meeting at the Melton track and at other locations.
The investigation centred on a race at Cobram in northern Victoria on June 22 last year, won by a horse called Airborne Magic, trained by David Bartley.
Tooram Lad, driven by the Shepparton-based Jack, ran third at $4.60, ahead of the $1.70 favourite Dehillman.
The Herald Sun reports today that it is believed as much as $30,000 was won on the race by figures connected to participants.
Investigators from Harness Racing Victoria’s integrity unit initiated an inquiry after becoming suspicious.
The unit’s findings were later passed on to the Victoria Police sporting integrity intelligence unit.
Some of those involved in the race, and others connected to them, have been interviewed twice.
One racing stalwart said the investigation would rock the industry. “It’s s big deal. It’ll really get the tongues wagging.”
Harness Racing Victoria has bolstered efforts to crack down on corruption in the past two years. It has invested in hiring investigators and boosted its intelligence-gathering and analysis capacity.
More money has been sunk into resources, including technology able to detail call charge records and retrieve text messages.
HRV last night confirmed an investigation had been run by its officers into a Cobram race on June 22 last year. It said the matter was then referred to police.
“HRV are unable to make any further comment at this time,” a spokesman said.
The Breeders Crown features eight group one races and brings together the best horses in Australia.
Investigators are determined to rid the sport of any lingering perception it is vulnerable to corruption. They last year uncovered a race-fixing scam which torpedoed the careers of top trainer Shayne Cramp and his father Greg. Both later pleaded guilty in court to the criminal charge of engaging in conduct that corrupts a betting outcome.
The Australian