Interim report from Ray Murrihy review into Tasmanian racing industry allegations released

An explosive new document has shone a light on issues within the Tasmanian racing industry, after shock claims of race fixing and animal cruelty were aired in media reports earlier this year.

Minister Felix Ellis. Question time in the Tasmanian parliament. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A national integrity expert has labelled the rules governing Tasmania’s racing industry as “deficient” and has suggested that “a small percentage” of race winnings could be set aside to fund a humane rehoming regime for retired horses.

The state government released an interim report on Wednesday from integrity consultant Ray Murrihy’s independent review into allegations of team driving, race fixing and animal cruelty in harness racing and the management of these issues by the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI).

The review was commissioned following explosive claims aired in an ABC report in March, with Mr Murrihy’s final report expected to be handed to the government by the end of the year.

Ray Murrihy. Picture: Supplied/Tasracing

The interim report covers just two of the review’s terms of reference, despite Racing Minister Felix Ellis saying last month that five would be addressed in the document, which was delivered to the government on August 31.

Mr Murrihy, who has obtained almost 100 submissions and interviews in the review process, said he had to delay his final report due to “the availability of witnesses, the volume of information that I have received and the need to afford those affected by the investigation procedural fairness”.

Mr Murrihy described Tasmania’s Rules of Racing as “deficient” because they “do not prescribe what is considered a minimum standard for horses and facilities at training establishments”.

In the wake of a separate review into the Tasmanian racing industry, known as the Monteith Review, Tasracing is developing a new Code of Practice for horse welfare and management. A draft Racing Regulation and Integrity Bill is currently out for public consultation.

Minister Felix Ellis. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Murrihy said the issue of rehoming retired race horses required “immediate attention” and urged the government to compel the owners of horses to “take full responsibility” for rehoming retired animals.

The report highlighted “a stifling of competition” in Tasmanian racing, particularly in lower-class races. He singled out one example of a leading trainer “quite legally” having the “majority or all runners” in lower-rating races.

“This is clearly deleterious to encouraging participation and ensuring strong competition,” he said.

The interim report calls on Tasracing to implement new rehoming rules, acknowledging that this “will take time”, but adding that other jurisdictions had put a small percentage of racing prize money towards rehoming initiatives.

A review into Tasmania’sracing industry is under way.

Mr Murrihy said competition was “the industry’s best deterrent” against team driving and race fixing.

Mr Ellis said it was “absolutely critical that racing is fair and that it is humane”.

“We want to make sure that the public, participants and punters have confidence in that,” he said.

Labor racing spokesman Dean Winter questioned why the government did not immediately release the report upon receiving it.

“It is still not clear when the final report will be completed or released or how some of these issues are going to be dealt with,” he said.

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said Mr Ellis needed to make improvements to animal welfare laws and racing regulations “an immediate priority”.