It has been reported that a currently-suspended owner/handicapper has been accused of paying a horseman to throw a race so that he could win a wager placed on the online betting exchange Betfair
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According to an article by the Herald Sun, Down Under owner/handicapper Michael Achurch, who is currently in the midst of a five-year suspension, has been accused by Harness Racing NSW of paying horseman Adam Ruggari $5,000 in order for the horse Regal Hawk to lose a race last September.
Harness Racing NSW has also accused Achurch of then laying the horse to be beaten on Betfair.
According to the article, Harness Racing NSW allege that Achurch paid Ruggari to tamper with Regal Hawk's back hopple so that it would come undone during the race. Regal Hawk was a $1.50 favourite for the race.
A middle man in the case has also been charged.
"These charges are a culmination of a lot of hard work and a lot of investigating by our team of stewards," HRNSW spokesman Sam Nati was quoted as saying.
(With files from the Herald Sun)