Track-side fight ‘damaging’

A fight at a high-profile Palmerston North racing meet has done untold damage to the greyhound industry, a leading racing figure says.

But, a person accused of being involved in the fracas says everything has been blown out of proportion.

The Judicial Control Authority for Racing is hearing a Racing Integrity Unit case against Darcy Poutama, Kellie Gommans and Adam Jenkins.

They are each charged with committing an act that is detrimental to the image of greyhound racing, after an ugly brawl at Manawatu Raceway on March 31.

There was a large crowd at the meeting, a dual code event involving both greyhound and harness racing, as part of the inaugural Manawatu Gold Cup Festival.

Greyhound Racing NZ head of racing Greg Kerr told the hearing on Tuesday he had been invited to the meet, which had gone well until the last harness race.

He and various other VIPS were together in the grandstand when he saw a man ‘‘square up’’ to Jenkins.

A fight broke out between them, and other people, including Gommans, got involved, Kerr said.

Jenkins was held back by his father, while Gommans also moved away. She was later seen kicking and lashing out at Poutama, Kerr said.

Most other witnesses gave a similar account, although some said Jenkins did not throw the first punch.

Greyhound trainer Brendon Cole said he saw Poutama throw a drink at Jenkins, and punch him from behind, before the incident.

Kerr said the incident had tarred the greyhound industry, and resulted in media articles and anti-greyhoud racing lobby groups getting in touch with MPS.

He had multiple messages from the New Zealand Racing Board the following Monday and harness racing figures were unimpressed.

‘‘We sunk a lot of money into this event. It’s now in doubt if it’s going to happen again.

‘‘This incident has done a reasonable amount of damage to us.’’

Poutama and Gommans both gave recorded statements to the Racing Integrity Unit.

Gommans said someone else had gone at Jenkins first.

The hearing continues Wednesday. on