Trainer admits using fake vaccine pass
‘‘It was more than trying to enter a racecourse without having the passport, but actively obtaining and using a fake one’’
Taranaki horse trainer Trudy Keegan has been suspended after she admitted using a fake vaccine pass at a race meeting in January.
Keegan has been handed a four-month suspension, fined $3000 and ordered to pay costs after a Racing Integrity Board hearing.
The Stratford trainer, who has held a Class A licence for 14 years and has 22 horses in work, was approached by an integrity board investigator at an Otaki race meeting and asked to produce her vaccine pass, a requirement under New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing rules.
The investigator, Georgina Murrow, tried to scan the fake pass Keegan had downloaded onto her phone, but it failed to register.
‘‘Ms Keegan had earlier endeavoured to deflect the investigator’s questions by stating that she had earlier that day been able to scan the passport at a takeaway restaurant,’’ the hearing was told.
Murrow reported Keegan had said she was opposed to vaccination requirements, NZ Thoroughbred Racing directives and had pressure placed on her from owners to attend race meetings.
Keegan subsequently denied she was opposed to vaccinations but had chosen not to get vaccinated because of possible alleged health side effects.
‘‘Counsel contended that this offending was serious, involving planned and deliberate dishonest actions to flout the NZTR Mandatory Directive,’’ the board’s report said.
‘‘It was more than trying to enter a racecourse without having the passport, but actively obtaining and using a fake one in order to deceive Racing Club Officials, authorities and the RIB [Racing Integrity Board].’’
Counsel for Keegan, Troy Wano, told the hearing she made an error of judgment out of stress, mental or emotional pressure.
She was also remorseful and has suffered from adverse publicity.
He also said Keegan thought she had until January 17 to produce a double vaccination passport, a point wholly rejected by hearing chairperson Justice Warwick Gendall, QC.
‘‘Her claim now defied common sense when viewed against the clear facts,’’ he said.
Aggravating factors included her willingness to obtain a fake passport with the intention of deceiving others for her fraudulent advantage, her attempts to deflect the inquiries of the investigator, while she also admitted to attending race meetings at Awapuni and New Plymouth in breach of NZ Thoroughbred Racing rules.
There were strong mitigating factors, including her unblemished record, her lengthy involvement in racing, her reputation for past honesty and impressive character references.
‘‘Ms Keegan’s tearful response to the investigator when eventually confronted may have been genuine contrition or sorrow, but may well have been anguish that her fraud had been unveiled,’’ Gendall said.
Keegan was afforded two weeks before her suspension starts to enable her to make any arrangements for other licensed trainers to take over training her horses.