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Police Raid Stables?? Oh Dear


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https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/106830745/seven-charged-in-harness-racing-probe

Stuff understands the 26-year-old is Matt Anderson, who is widely regarded as one of harness racing's brightest young prospects.

Four men aged 34, 40, 41 and 44 were due to appear in Christchurch District Court on Tuesday next week on match-fixing charges. Stuff understands the men are Nigel McGrath, John Dunn, Blair Orange and Andrew Stuart.

A 41-year-old woman would appear in court the same day on two counts of supplying Class B drugs. Stuff understands she is champion driver Natalie Rasmussen.

A 47-year-old man, who Stuff understands is Brent Wall, 47, has been charged with deception by match-fixing and is due to appear in Palmerston North District Court, also on Tuesday, police said.

Edited by BitofaLegend
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Innocent till proven guilty don't forget... But it doesnt look good on the industry when some of the leading figures are involved. 

Matt Anderson, Nigel McGrath, John Dunn, Blair Orange, Andrew Stuart, Natalie Rasmussen and Brent Wall should be ashamed of themselves along with anyone else involved in match fixing. Surely Natalie will lose her license over this, supplying Class B drugs to stables? Now I would like to know which stables she was supplying the Class B drugs to?

What I find even stranger that this comes out on the same day a well known Greyhound figure only got a 5k fine for 5 dead dogs? Was this a case of swaying the media away from that animal welfare issue?

Edited by BitofaLegend
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Just now, BitofaLegend said:

Surely Natalie will lose her license over this, supplying Class B drugs to stables? Now I would like to know which stables she was supplying the Class B drugs to?

 

God, this is ugly.

  • Class B (high risk): cannabis oil, hashish, morphine, opium, ecstasy and many amphetamine-type substances

One could make some pretty offhand comments but I won't.

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1 minute ago, BitofaLegend said:

Innocent till proven guilty don't forget... But it doesnt look good on the industry when some of the leading figures are involved. 

Matt Anderson, Nigel McGrath, John Dunn, Blair Orange, Andrew Stuart, Natalie Rasmussen and Brent Wall should be ashamed of themselves along with anyone else involved in match fixing. Surely Natalie will lose her license over this, supplying Class B drugs to stables? Now I would like to know which stables she was supplying the Class B drugs to?

 

Has it been confirmed she was supplying it to stables.

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4 minutes ago, Richie said:

Has it been confirmed she was supplying it to stables.

It hasnt been confirmed No. I should clarify this is an assumption on my behalf. Unless she was taking those class b drugs herself. whatever the drugs are 

EDIT: The article does say "supplying Class B drugs". 

Edited by BitofaLegend
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This is clearly going to turn the harness racing scene upside down.

In future alll bad drives will be looked at?

Hard to believe that some of these trainers/ drivers will be found guilty though.

Brodie keeps his powder clean and there is a meeting on Friday night that warrants a bit of work anyway.

Feel sorry for the families that have been caught up in this shambles! 

 

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A mid-winter harness race in Nelson is at the centre of a police inquiry into alleged match-fixing - with allegations at least one of the drivers manipulated the result.

Charges have been laid in relation to Race 11 at Nelson on June 8, which was won by Storm Prince, driven by champion driver Blair Orange.

Another driver in the event has been charged with manipulating the result of the race - and causing losses to the betting public and other race participants.

The charge is laid under the Crimes Act and carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison.

 

That driver's horse was considered one of the pre-race favourites - he has been accused by police of not attempting to win.

That driver is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court this afternoon.

He is also charged with possessing the Class B drug MDMA for supply and with supplying Class B drugs (MDMA).

There were 11 horses in the race, part of a two-day Nelson racing carnival in June.

Seven people charged today after police raids

Seven people have been charged in relation to a police inquiry into allegations of race-fixing and corruption in the harness racing industry.

A 26-year-old man is due to appear in Christchurch District Court today on charges of deception by match-fixing, possessing Class B drugs for supply, and supplying Class B drugs.

Four men, aged 34, 40, 41 and 44, are due to appear in Christchurch District Court next week on match-fixing charges.

A 41-year-old woman was also due to appear the same day on two counts of supplying Class B drugs.

A 27-year-old man has been charged with deception by match-fixing and is due to appear in Palmerston North District Court next week.

The charges follow raids at 10 stables yesterday in Canterbury, Manawatu and Invercargill.

The police investigation was sparked by information passed to police by the Racing Integrity Unit as early as April last year and police have tapped phones and checked text messages as part of the investigation.

Racing Minister Winston Peters said yesterday: "This is a sad development. New Zealanders need to have confidence that the racing industry has integrity and is not above the law."

Police executed search warrants yesterday at eight properties in Christchurch, one in Manawatū and one in Invercargill.

Detective Superintendent Tim Anderson said the searches were the result of a long-running investigation into alleged corruption in the harness racing industry.

The Herald understands the investigations are into alleged race fixing involving up to four stables - with the possibility of collusion to effect the outcome of races for either gambling profit or to earn stake money.

He said the investigation began with information supplied by the Racing Integrity Unit.

"Police have been working in partnership with the RIU and other relevant organisations throughout the investigation."

The investigation was ongoing and police expected to provide further details in the coming days, Anderson said.

New Zealand Racing Board chairwoman Glenda Hughes said allegations of race-fixing were disappointing but showed "the racing integrity system is working".

"The actions taken today resulted from information received by the Racing Integrity Unit [RIU], an independent body charged with maintaining integrity in the sport," she said.

"That information initiated a co-ordinated and careful investigation between NZ Police and the RIU.

"The value of having an independent integrity body focused on investigating and prosecuting any alleged impropriety is reinforced in this action."

Racing Board CEO John Allen said: "Those involved in the industry and the Kiwi punters who support it must have confidence in the integrity of the sport.

"I am confident that our integrity systems work and that where alleged breaches of our rules and of criminal law are identified, they are investigated and prosecuted appropriately."

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