Police raid race identities
THE New Zealand harness racing industry was rocked by racefixing allegations yesterday that saw star trainers and drivers questioned by police.
During Operation Inca, 10 properties were searched. Stables were raided and trainers and drivers were escorted off their properties for questioning.
Police have been monitoring the communications of harness racing identities with phone taps for up to 18 months.
Figures interviewed yesterday included Blair Orange, record reinsman for wins in New Zealand last year.
The All Stars stables of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen were among those visited by police.
Police were not interested in him but his business partner, Natalie Rasmussen, Mr Purdon told Stuff.
‘‘I wouldn’t have thought she would have anything to worry about.
‘‘I certainly know as far as racefixing goes and drugs, they will draw a blank with us . . . we pretty well keep to ourselves.’’
He was surprised by the allegations against other trainers but said ‘‘the big guys’’ were often the first suspects.
‘‘They always pick on the people that are having the success.’’
Prominent Christchurch owner and punter Graeme Beirne told Stuff police wanted to question him. Four police cars and 12 officers went to his house yester day morning.
He is on holiday in Bali but expected to speak to police upon his return.
‘‘If they are talking racefixing, it’s nonsense. It doesn’t happen, so we’ll see what they come up with.’’
Operation Inca began after the police organised crime group started investigating allegations of racefixing after it received information in April from the racing integrity unit, which regulates race meetings.
That led to swarms of police yesterday raiding several properties in Canterbury, one in Manawatu and one in Invercargill, run by trainers Kirstin Barclay and Paul Ellis.
Ms Barclay believed she was interviewed because she regularly used some of the horsemen at the centre of the investigation to drive her horses.
‘‘I have got absolutely nothing to hide. They were not interested in me.’’
Ms Barclay’s recent training statistics show she trained the winners of 11 races with 186 starters last racing season.
That strikerate is considered modest compared to the big name trainers at the centre of the allegations.
Detective Superintendent Tim Anderson told media yesterday he expected charges would be laid yesterday afternoon.
However, last night, police were unable to confirm if anyone had been arrested.
Det Supt Anderson said the investigation was not just limited to racefixing and could include cases of horsedoping.
‘‘It is possible that other charges could be laid, in regards to [drugs], but it is too early to say.
‘‘We treat race fixing as a very serious offence and that is why our police organised crime group have been involved.’’
Det Supt Anderson said police wanted to hear from anyone with information about racefixing, asking them to come forward.
‘‘We expect to speak to more people as part of that investigation.’’
Harness Racing New Zealand chief executive Edward Rennell said the raids came as a shock.
‘‘The integrity of harness racing is of paramount importance.’’
New Zealand Racing Board chairwoman Glenda Hughes said allegations of racefixing were disappointing but showed ‘‘the racing integrity system is working’’.
Racing Minister Winston Peters said he was deeply concerned by the allegations.
‘‘This is a sad development. New Zealanders need to have confidence that the racing industry has integrity and is not above the law.’’
❛ They always pick on the people that are having the success
Mark Purdon
SOUTHERN harness racing officials have called yesterday’s shock police investigation in to racingfixing as a sad day for the sport.
Police seized evidence when they raided 10 properties, including one in Southland, when Operation Inca went public yesterday.
No Otago stables or horse people were involved in the investigation, which was a minor consolation, Forbury Park Trotting Club board chairman Peter Gillespie said.
‘‘It is just so disappointing. ‘‘Harness racing is a club-based model, with a lot of volunteer support, and this is just a huge kick in the guts.
‘‘It is a tightknit industry and this just lets the side down.’’
Harness racing had been riding a high over the past two racing seasons, with rising stakes at cluibs, particularly in Southland.
The industry got a further fillip with the release last week of the governmentcommissioned Messara report, which promises to boost industry revenue.
Yesterday’s police sting came as a shock and would dent the renewed confidence in harness racing, OtagoSouthland Trainers and Drivers Association president Geoff Knight said.
‘‘It is a shock and a disappointment for the industry.
‘‘It is a kick in the guts that the game didn’t need. We are at a point where Winston Peters has released the Messara report and things are looking like going forward. ‘‘This has taken the gloss off it.’’
Knight hoped the industry would survive the potentially devastating fallout from the scandal.
‘‘Until the investigation is complete you are innocent until proven guilty.
‘‘Our industry will survive regardless of the outcome of it, but it is disappointing.’’
Racing clubs rely on betting turnover to fund their racemeetings.
The scandal could dent confidence of punters and put them off betting on harness racing events.
That scenario could see all Southern harness racing participants suffer fallout from the scandal.
‘‘Southern Harness is based on increasing turnover to increase stakes and when something like this happens it doesn’t help,’’ Southern Harness Racing board chairman John Earl said.
‘‘It is a bitter pill to swallow when something like this is happening.’’