Police raid stables in NZ

[Messenger]

Word has it that 4 Canterbury NZ stables are in police lockdown this morning

[aussiebreno]

Word has it that 4 Canterbury NZ stables are in police lockdown this morning

One article goes on to say 10 in total incl at Invercargill and Manawatu. Article confirms one stables as Purdon.

Edit: Although searched further articles are starting to say Purdons in the clear.

[Dot]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12118939

[KTQ]

Blair Orange believe to have been arrested

[Messenger]

Blair Orange is NZ's leading driver for those who don't know.
We must also remember that arrested is NOT charged

Source Katie ?

[KTQ]

I guess its not confirmed so hearsay at this point.. but it is being reported on now

https://theinformant.co.nz/website/News/single_news/Wire-taps-used-in-race-fixing-investigation/NI0157

https://twitter.com/GuerinSports/status/1036810008241950720?s=19

[Diablo]

There will be a lot of speculation and innuendo before the real facts come out and no doubt the Forum Moderators will be on high alert analysing every word that's posted on this topic. My only hope is that the "Integrity" Unit does a complete and thorough job where all guilty parties and kicked out of the game for good and not like what they have done here in NSW and collected a few minor scalps, stuck their chests out and said "Look at us. We're doing a great job", when the only thing they have done is mostly failed in getting the big wigs that continuously cheat and get away with defences like "Horse chewed a post containing arsenic" or "Horse ate poppy flowers". The list is limitless. Still, interesting times ahead. Would be nice to know if my money was gone before the strat of a race when I've had a bet in NZ or if I was lucky enough to back the 'rort'.

[teecee]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/106807066/police-raids-on-harness-racing-entities

[teecee]

There is already too much unsubstantiated claims appearing in this thread. Please ensure you can back up you write here. If not dont post it as gospel.
This forum prides itself on sensible balanced discussion with rules to ensure trhgis is maintained. Anything which cant pass the forum rules may not survive long.

Thank you

[Showgrounds]

Agree TeeCee. Lots of sizzle but no sausage at this early stage.

[Messenger]

Agree TeeCee. Lots of sizzle but no sausage at this early stage.

There is a BBQ planned for Sept 12 and there are sausages on the menu

http://www.harnesslink.com/New-Zealand/Racing-investigation-statement-by-HRNZ

http://www.harnesslink.com/New-Zealand/Seven-charged-in-harness-investigation

[teecee]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/106830745/seven-charged-in-harness-racing-probe

[Dot]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12119600

[Messenger]

It would almost be a bigger embarrassment to NZ if this proved to be nothing more than sizzle

[teecee]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/106830745/seven-charged-in-harness-racing-probe

[Dot]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12119765&ref=twitter

[Messenger]

A poster reminded me of this story about the All Stars stable from 3mths ago - I wonder whether it could be relevant?

https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/racing/staff-fired-over-purdon-rasmussen-jewels-disaster

[Dot]

http://nzh.tw/12119904

[Dot]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12120518&ref=twitter

[Messenger]

One of our posters put this on twitter last night ;)

[teecee]

http://www.harnesslink.com/News/Gordon-Banks---hold

[teecee]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/106876709/dexter-dunn-poster-boy-of-new-zealand-harness-racing-a-person-of-interest-in-fixing-case

[Diablo]

One of our posters put this on twitter last night ;)

Doesn't seem to be any difference between a rigged race and a rigged video game

[aussiebreno]

Mick Guerin tweets multiple tweets daily and was breaking this story heavily on the day. Just the one retweet past two days about Hong Kong thoroughbreds. Whats the go there? Has he been gagged?

[Messenger]

He is more or less a member of their industry and it could have been suggested that it is not good for them if he keeps it front and centre. I have no doubt that David Martin would prefer our forum not to post about today's Wodonga court ruling - somewhat understandable I guess

[gutwagon]

I prefer to see cheats being caught and prosecuted. Shows that the integrity system is working. Anyone that thinks that the gallops don't have 10 times the amount of cheats compared to Harness racing is kidding themselves ! I'd prefer to see them caught rather than ignored to protect the sports image as others are doing.

[Messenger]

Rick, I suspect the gallops are the same / as bad but with our form I don't think we can claim they are 10 times worse.

[Dot]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12123288&ref=twitter

[Messenger]

It would seem all but 3 have had their names suppressed as they are making applications to the High Court for suppression

[teecee]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/107536106/jury-to-hear-harness-racefixing-cases

http://www.harnesslink.com/News/Natalie-Rasmussen-free-to-drive-again

[teecee]

http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/request-for-ruling-riu-v-mr-x-and-mr-y-decision-of-judicial-committee-ruling-sought-by-informant-result-only-chair-hon-l-stevens-qc

[Messenger]

http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/request-for-ruling-riu-v-mr-x-and-mr-y-decision-of-judicial-committee-ruling-sought-by-informant-result-only-chair-hon-l-stevens-qc

"[4] The decisions of the Racecourse Inspector dated respectively 27 September 2018 (open horseman X) and 28 September 2018 (open horseman Y) (the decisions) that both drivers “cannot drive at any race meeting in which betting is available” failed adequately to take into account the issue of proportionality and are hereby quashed."

[Messenger]

http://www.harnesslink.com/New-Zealand/Harness-racing-alleged-corruption-widens-to-Auckland

Operation Inca continues

[teecee]

Related hearing...
http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/non-raceday-inquiry-request-for-rulings-riu-v-x-and-y-written-decision-dated-15-february-2019-chair-hon-l-l-stevens-qc

Indirectly related hearing but links to #post 33 above...…
http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/non-raceday-inquiry-riu-v-s-lawson

[Messenger]

Related hearing...
http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/non-raceday-inquiry-request-for-rulings-riu-v-x-and-y-written-decision-dated-15-february-2019-chair-hon-l-l-stevens-qc

Indirectly related hearing but links to #post 33 above...…
http://www.jca.org.nz/non-race-day-hearings/non-raceday-inquiry-riu-v-s-lawson

There is a lot of reading there folks so here are a couple of passages from the decisions

In the first case against X and Y

[3] The RIU has been informed by the NZ Police involved in Operation INCA that so far two significant bundles of disclosure have been provided to both respondents and other licensed persons who have also been criminally charged. The RIU has made a formal request (the request) to the respondents pursuant to Rule 226(2)(b) of the New Zealand Rules of Harness Racing (Harness Racing Rules) seeking to be provided with copies of the information now within the knowledge or possession of the respondents arising from this disclosure.

[34] We are satisfied that the requests made by the Racecourse Inspector to the respondents to provide information emanating from criminal disclosure are both lawful and reasonable.

In the second case against Mr Lawson for betting on horses other than those he was driving

[8] Mr Lawson’s Open Horseman’s licence was suspended from 15 January 2019 (the date upon which he was stood down by the RIU from race driving pursuant to r 226) up to and including 31 July 2020. He was also fined the sum of $8,000.

The Harnesslink article is a shorter read

http://www.harnesslink.com/New-Zealand/Lawson-cleared-of-any-race-fixing

[Dot]

I think the most pertinent parts of those articles are that Simon Lawson’s betting activies are not linked to race fixing, and at the end of the other one, The RIU is not prevented/adverse to taking action against the accused participants prior to completion of the criminal proceedings.

[teecee]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/114939089/operation-inca-racefixing-charge-against-canterbury-drivertrainer-dropped