On Friday, trainer Matthew Jackson was charged with intentionally rigging his horse's earplug cord to cause an equipment break and has been handed a three-year
suspension by Harness Racing New South Wales.
Jackson is appealing the charge, which would see him serve the three-year ban after serving the time on his existing suspensions, reportedly four years worth.
The release from HRNSW is as follows.
On Thursday, Stewards concluded their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the retirement of PREMIUM RED the $2.10 favourite, from Race 4, The Redhead Surf Club Old Boys Pace 2030 metres, at Newcastle on 18 February 2010.
During the course of the inquiry, evidence was taken from Mr. Anthony Davies the driver of PREMIUM RED, Mr. Bill Mordue, the trainer of PREMIUM RED, Mr. Matthew Jackson, the part owner and previous trainer of PREMIUM RED, Mr. James West, the part owner of PREMIUM RED, Mr. Damien Smith, who drove PREMIUM RED in a trial prior to the Newcastle event, and Mr. John Camilleri a Sydney based Bloodstock and Betting Commission Agent.
It was established that in the early stages of the race that when the driver of PREMIUM RED Mr. Anthony Davies activated the removable deafeners this caused the rear hopple carrying strap to be pulled over the horse’s rump and PREMIUM RED was immediately retired from the event due to gear malfunction.
Mr. Matthew Jackson was found guilty of a charge under Rule 215 of manipulating gear so as to improperly disadvantage a horse in a race.
The particulars of that charge being:
“That prior to the running of Race 4 at Newcastle on 18 February 2010, after PREMIUM RED was prepared and geared for racing by its registered Trainer Mr. Bill Mordue, you did then fit a set of removable deafeners to PREMIUM RED.
In fitting these deafeners you did manipulate the deafener release cord in such a way as to ensure that when the deafener cord was activated, that significant pressure would be placed on the rear hopple carrying strap.
Further, you did manipulate the buckle on the strap which holds the rear hopple carrying strap in position by entrapping the tongue of the buckle in its keeper which ensured that when the deafeners were released the hopples would be pulled from their correct position, causing them to fall towards the back of the horse and the horse to be retired from the event due to a gear malfunction.
To ensure that this occurred early in the race, when the horse was not racing in the body of the field, you did issue instructions to the driver Anthony Davies ‘go back when you get back if there is a not a horse to the inside of you if you are last or second last rip the ear plugs out’ ”.
Mr. Jackson was disqualified for a period of three years to be served cumulatively with other penalties Mr. Jackson is currently appealing.
(Harness Racing NSW)
says "How many more Black
says "How many more Black Eyes can this industry take"?? If stong leadership isn't taken in this case than we might as well throw this sport out with the dirty wash!! Patrons can only take so many black eyes before they realize there are other things that we can be involved with that don't leave such a sour taste!
Life with NO PAROLE!!!!
I can't imagine anyone going
I can't imagine anyone going to this extent to keep a horse from being in the top three or four. I wish they would have went further and brought in the proper authorities to question the individual. Someone other than the person who did this, might have profited greatly.
This individual in my opinion should receive a life long ban from harness racing, period, end of topic.
If these allegations stand
If these allegations stand up, it should be life. Not only is this type of behavior ruining our sport and business, but putting lives in danger.
Dave Goodrow