Man who streaked down straight at Gold Coast Turf Club banned from Australian race tracks for two years

A MAN who streaked during a Gold Coast race meeting in little more than his shoes and socks has been banned from Australian racetracks for two years.

A streaker races across the track during the Pink Ribbon Cup held at the Gold Coast Turf Club. Picture: Regi Varghese

A MAN who streaked during a Gold Coast race meeting in little more than his shoes and socks has been slapped with a $2000 fine and banned from Australian racetracks for two years.

Timothy Leary stunned racegoers when he jumped the fence and sprinted down the home straight as horses were at the barriers for a race at the Gold Coast Turf Club on September 20 last year.

Racing Queensland stewards took into account Mr Leary’s remorse for his actions but had to show such actions would not be tolerated.

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A streaker races across the track during the Pink Ribbon Cup held at the Gold Coast Turf Club. Picture: Regi Varghese

The two-year disqualification includes a series of bans, ranging from not being allowed to step foot on any racetrack in Australia to not being allowed to own a horse or place a bet on any horse race in Australia.

RQ stewards were able to impose the ban under AR 182 in the Australian Rules Of Racing, which lists the impositions of a disqualified person.

Mr Leary pleaded guilty to charge 175A under the AROR which states “any person who has been found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the image, or interest, or welfare of racing may be penalised”.

A streaker who raced across the Gold Coast Turf Club track in little more than his shoes and socks last year has been banned from Australian race tracks for two years. Picture: Regi Varghese

GCTC general manager Richard Towson yesterday welcomed the penalty.

“We hope that it acts as a deterrent to others who may have the thought cross their mind of invading the track,” he said.

The ban comes after two tourists also streaked down the home straight of the Gold Coast Turf Club during a horse race on March 28.

These two men are likely to face more serious charges though as the horses were coming down the home straight when they invaded the track leading to serious safety concerns.