Tasracing issues warning-off notices to racing industry identities

Tasracing has started the process to ban industry figures adversely named in the Murrihy report after a court confirmed it had the power to do so. It also has outlined new harness racing rules.

Andrew Jenkins Tasracing CEO. GBE hearing with Tasracing. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Racing industry figures adversely named in the Murrihy report have been given until Thursday to explain why they should not be warned off Tasmanian racecourses.

Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins said as a result of last week’s Supreme Court finding confirming its power to do so, Tasracing issued formal Show Cause Notices.

The report upheld claims of race fixing and animal cruelty in the harness racing industry.

Four people who were warned off won an initial appeal, a decision that was overturned by the Supreme Court.

“The Tasracing Board will convene on Friday to formally review any Show Cause submissions received,” Mr Jenkins said.

Mr Jenkins also announced a new revision to the Equity in Participation Policy for harness racing to prevent a single trainer dominating fields.

He said except in specific circumstances, horses trained by a trainer or trainers at the same private training venue could no longer make up more than half the starters in any race field, to a maximum of four runners.

Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins at Elwick Racecourse. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Importantly, the policy will provide smaller trainers with the opportunity to consistently gain access to ratings-based handicap races,” he said.

“The policy recognises the importance of providing all harness trainers with the opportunity to access races consistently and promotes enhanced competition in the harness racing Code in Tasmania.”

The policy will not apply under feature races with prize money greater than $30,000; the heats of feature races that have a final with prizemoney greater than $30,000; to the races that are finals from heats and to two- or three-year-old races.

Racing Minister Jane Howlett said she had sought a briefing from Tasracing.

“While I understand that it is important that Tasracing must follow established regulatory processes, it is clear that action must be taken urgently,” she said.

“Mr Murrihy in his report stated that the racing model itself requires a major overhaul to improve competition on the racetrack.

“New rules for the harness code have been introduced yesterday, effective immediately, and I am hopeful that this will help to enhance competition in harness racing in Tasmania.”

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the saga was an example of another failure of oversight.

“It’s reasonable that people ask the question, what’s at fault here, like what systems do we need to fix so that this doesn’t happen in future or, or in other instances where there’s evidence of failures of the Animal Welfare Act and racing regulations?”