Stewards’ Inquiry – Harness
22 January, 2009
Harness
RWWA Stewards today inquired into a report received from Principal RWWA Investigator Mr Phil O’Reilly concerning disqualified Harness Trainer/Driver Mr Lindsay Harper.
Mr Harper is currently serving a five (5) year disqualification under HRR243 for “behaviour that was detrimental to the Harness Racing Industry.” This disqualification was due to expire on 5 May 2010.
Mr P O’Reilly’s report revealed that Mr Harper had applied for and had been granted a Groom’s Licence, by the Delaware Harness Racing Commission in the United States of America. It was established the application contained false declarations.
It was further established that Mr Harper had attended the Dover Downs Racecourse in the USA, had transported horses to that track and had been involved in other racecourse duties. Further he was employed by a prominent racing stable in Delaware USA.
Local Rule of Racing 259 states:
(1) The period of disqualification or warning off of any person, who is disqualified of warned off, who contravenes rule 259(1), shall automatically be deemed to recommence as from the most recent date of such contravention and may also be subject to further penalty.
After consideration of the evidence Stewards were of the opinion that Mr L. Harper had contravened Harness Rule 259(1):
A disqualified person or a person whose name appears in the current list of disqualifications published or adopted by a recognised harness racing authority or a person warned off cannot do any of the following
- (a) associate with persons connected with the harness racing industry for purposes relating to that industry.
- (d) enter a racecourse or any place under the control of a club or Controlling Body.
- (g) enter any premises used for the purposes of the harness racing industry.
- (h) participate in any manner in the harness racing industry.
After consideration, Stewards invoked the provisions of Local Rule 259 and deemed Mr Harper’s five (5) year disqualification to recommence from 5 January 2009 to expire on midnight 4 January 2014.
John A. Zucal
RWWA Chairman of Stewards
For more information contact:
Racing and Wagering Western Australia
Stewards Division
70 Grandstand Road
Ascot WA 6104
Ph: (08) 9277 0777