Tasracing notes the release today (2 October 2024) of the Report of Independent Stewards Panel established to examine and further investigate the issues raised in the Murrihy Report.
To summarise the findings of the report:
- Harness trainers Ben Yole and Tim Yole have been charged with the mistreatment of horses between 1 April 2020 and 1 April 2023 under the Australian Harness Racing Rules.
- Driver Nathan Ford has been charged after he “failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to win or obtain the best possible placing on his drive Priddy Sublime” on 26 February 2023 in race nine at the Launceston race meeting.
- Corey Bell was charged for refusing to answer questions in relation to two separate matters as part of the independent investigation.
- Evidence on three other issues is still being examined and the independent panel will determine if any further action will be taken on these matters by 14 October.
Further, Ben and Tim Yole have now been issued with show-cause notices by the Director of Racing regarding them being fit and proper people to maintain a harness trainer licence.
The issues raised in the Murrihy Report and in the Report of Independent Stewards Panel are clearly very serious.
As Tasracing has stated previously, there is absolutely no place in our industry for the type of behaviour as outlined in these reports.