It was announced a few weeks ago that a pair of Standardbred horseman were recently handed lengthy suspensions in relation to an awards-dinner brawl.
As a brief article by The Examiner explains, Down Under Standardbred trainer Nathan Ford has been handed a four-year suspension as a result of four separate charges in relation to the fracas. As the report explains, three of the charges were giving false evidence, failing to attend an inquiry, and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of harness racing. Ford is currently in the midst of serving a suspension from a separate incident, and that suspension runs until 2019. Ford’s four-year suspension will kick in at some point in 2019, therefore he will be suspended until 2023.
Grant Hodges, the other horseman that was reprimanded over the brouhaha, was handed a three-year suspension for his role in the dust up. Hodges will be suspended until 2020. He received a one-year suspension for failing to attend an inquiry and two years for assault.
Three other individuals were either fined or suspended in relation to the donnybrook, which occurred at a harness racing awards banquet in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 18 months ago.
(With files from The Examiner)