Victoria Police launch probe into harness racing

VICTORIA POLICE officers have raided the properties of top Australian harness racing figures over their alleged involvement in a race-fixing scandal.

Yesterday morning’s raids have targeted the racing operations of the Cramp family in Mildura.

Shayne Cramp is one of the state’s leading harness racing drivers, while both he and his father Greg also run a major training operation.

Fairfax Media was to publish an investigation about the pair’s links to suspect betting activities a fortnight ago, but was requested by police to stall publication.

The Fairfax Media investigation can reveal that Shayne and Greg Cramp are alleged to be involved in a suspected illegal betting syndicate that has been attempting to manipulate the outcome of races for several months.

No other members of their fam- ily are alleged to be involved.

The police investigation, carried out by detectives from the force’s Sports Integrity Unit, has been running for at least 10 months.

Four properties in Mildura have been raided along with another property in Melbourne. Police have seized evidence.

Several prominent harness racing identities are expected to be charged with corrupting the outcome of a race or betting in what will be a major test of Victoria’s relatively new ’cheating in sport’ laws.

The raids are set to raise fresh questions about the integrity of racing in Victoria, with key insiders telling Fairfax Media that harness racing has been vulnerable to corruption due to the poor resourcing of the sport’s integrity area.

The revelations come just weeks after three top thorough- bred trainers, Peter Moody, Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh, were notified that some of their horses had tested positive for banned levels of cobalt after they raced in the spring carnival. The trio have pleaded their innocence.

Fairfax Media can also reveal that a prominent harness racing figure has been investigated by stewards over allegations of supplying cobalt to thoroughbred and harness racing stables across the state. It’s understood this harness racing figure was raided and quizzed by stewards last year.

The state government recently ordered a major review of harness racing in Victoria due to falling revenue levels in the sport. The review, led by top racing administrator Dale Monteith, has commissioned sports corruption expert and former chief steward Des Gleeson to investigate concerns about the integrity of harness racing. Fairfax