RIU appeal Lawson suspension for serious racing offences

[Chief Stipe]

The Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) lodged an immediate appeal against the 18-month suspension and $8,000 fine handed down to Auckland horseman Simon Lawson on February 21.

Lawson pleaded guilty to serious racing offences after he was observed to have bet on two horses racing against those he was driving and profited.

The RIU, who brought the charges, sought a penalty of three years disqualification.

After getting only half of that time, and a suspension, not a disqualification, they filed to have the penalty reconsidered.

Mike Godber, General Manager of the RIU, confirmed the move on Wednesday.

“We have appealed the penalty in Mr Lawson’s case.

“We don’t have a timeframe yet as to when that will be heard, but we expect it should be in the next week or two.”

A suspension prevents Lawson from driving on race night, but allows him to continue working in stables, attending race meetings and to drive at trials and workouts.

A disqualification equates to a complete removal from the racing industry, banning someone from race courses, stables and training tracks.

In their reasons decision, the JCA said they felt removing Lawson from the driving ranks was penalty enough.

“We have no difficulty in accepting the proposition of the RIU that the penalty we impose must give emphasis to deterrence, both general and specific,” read the decision.

“The need to uphold the integrity of racing and reinforce public confidence in race betting, we agree, has to be at the forefront of any penalty we impose.

“However, we do not believe that this needs to be to the extent of preventing [Lawson] from having any connection at all with the industry, as [the RIU] has submitted.

“We do not believe his presence on a race track will diminish a penalty’s deterrent effect.

“His absence from the driving ranks by way of suspension will have that effect.”

The summary of evidence notes that the RIU had cause to investigate a race at Alexandra Park on May 25 last year, the indications being the result of the race may have been fixed.

The race was won by Mr Natural, driven by Benjamin Butcher, while Lawson drove the unplaced My Royal Roxy.

Working backwards using forensic tracking techniques, thanks to the use of a TAB betting voucher, the RIU uncovered evidence that bets on Mr Natural to win belonged to Lawson and another Pukekohe-based horseman, Gareth Dixon.

The pair had jointly collected over $700 off a ‘multi’ bet at another race meeting the night prior and then went on to spend $370 on bets on that night’s meeting, $240 of them including Mr Natural to win or place.

The bets ultimately returned dividends of more than $2300, which Dixon cashed in and added to the existing betting voucher, creating a new one worth $2759.20.

Dixon also collected $674.20 in cash from two separate winning bets on Mr Natural.

After one $200 bet was placed on a thoroughbred racing option, the voucher was then cashed in at the Pukekohe TAB by Lawson on June 5 and the winnings split evenly between the pair.

Gareth Dixon’s case was heard separately last week and it is understood he denied the charges levelled against him, likely on the grounds that he never knew Lawson was driving in the race.

A third man, Jon Habraken, whose penalty case was heard the same day as Lawson’s, is yet to be advised of his penalty, he confirmed to The Informant on Wednesday.

Habraken placed a bet at the Pukekohe TAB on behalf of Lawson on July 19, the subject being the horse Madame Connoistre.

Lawson was driving a different horse in the race, Ziyad.

Lawson approached Habraken and claims to have said, “Can you back one for me tomorrow night? Don’t tell anyone”.

Mr Lawson claimed to have explained that he was unable to place the bet as he was driving another horse in the same race.

Habraken disputes that claim and denied being told as such.

The horse finished second and Lawson collected $350 for his $100 each-way bet.

As a result of their operation, the RIU forwarded the information and evidence to Police, who were undertaking the covert Operation Inca in to race fixing in harness racing.

Police interviewed Lawson on December 6 and ultimately passed the file back to the RIU for prosecution under the rules of racing.

Other points of interest from Lawson’s testimony are as follows.

He stated that the betting voucher he created was for the benefit of himself and Dixon and that they usually bet together, which is disputed by Dixon.

He also stated that Mr Dixon has previously placed bets for him when he was unable to as he was driving in a race, also disputed by Dixon.

Lawson was adamant that despite placing bets on horses that he was not driving, that he always drove his horses as best he could and gave them the best opportunity in the race.

 

Lawson stated that he has a gambling problem and was now seeing a Counsellor to deal with that.

The RIU contended that Lawson was well aware of the rules of racing and that his actions were deliberate, repeated and amounted to very serious misconduct.

A ruling is expected in Dixon’s case as soon as next week.

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[theshu]

 I believe his father is  or  was  the head man for  the trainers and drivers  union  or some such thing .  Not a good look for the cheats on seats.