Racing inquiry widens

A police inquiry into harness race-fixing is now looking into races in Auckland. Police have charged 13 people in relation to a long-running investigation by the National Organised Crime Group into alleged corruption in the harnessracing industry. Yesterday, police said detectives this week made further inquiries in the Auckland region, in conjunction with investigators from the Racing Integrity Unit (RIU). A number of people had been interviewed, and betting anomalies had been identified in at least one race in May 2018. ‘‘The RIU is considering charges relating to the breach of rules around driver betting in relation to these anomalies.’’ Seventeen properties in Canterbury, Manawatu¯ and Invercargill were raided in September.