The Michigan Gaming Control Board last week indefinitely suspended driver Kevin Wallis, which in turn led to reciprocity by the Ontario Racing Commission
over the weekend.
Wallis, who last drove at Hiawatha Horse Park on July 1, was listed to drive eight horses at that track on Saturday, July 3, but was taken off all his mounts as a result of the suspension. Two horses trained by Wallis’s wife, Linda, were also scratched by the Hiawatha stewards Saturday. Wallis was also taken off nine drives at Dresden Raceway on Sunday, July 4, including one conditioned by his wife who was scratched.
Sources told harnessracing.com that Wallis, who last raced in Michigan at Hazel Park on June 28, received his suspension as a result of the ongoing probe into alleged race fixing that has already resulted in the suspensions of six horsemen, one owner and one known gambler.
Wallis had been requested by the Gaming Control Board a few weeks ago to bring in financial records — which harnessracing.com was told he produced — but no action was taken until last week. In posting the suspension on the Standardbred Canada website, the Ontario Racing Commission noted the “full suspension” was to run through December 31, 2010.
Wallis, 53, has won 9,071 races, which places him 12th on the all-time win list, and has more than $42.9 million in career earnings. His biggest career victory came when he directed Burning Point, at the time trained by his wife, Linda, to a win in the 2003 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Pace.
Details Of Ruling Obtained
Harnessracing.com has obtained a copy of the ruling issued by the Michigan Gaming Control Board suspending Wallis immediately through December 31.
In giving the explanation of the penalty, the ruling states in part that in a June 22 hearing with state stewards he denied accepting money or giving money to other drivers for participation in race fixing. The ruling alleges that Wallis’ testimony contradicted testimony given by unnamed drivers that they accepted money in exchange for participating in fixed races and that Wallis had received money and paid the drivers for their participation.
The complete explanation of what transpired from the June 22 hearing reads as follows:
"While under oath, Mr. Wallis provided false and misleading statements to the stewards’ questions. Specifically, Mr. Wallis denied accepting money for his participation in race fixing, and also denied that he ever gave money to other drivers for their participation in race fixing. These responses contradicted the transcripts generated from three separate interviews of other drivers. In those interviews, the other drivers admitted to accepting money in exchange for their participation in fixing races, and also implicated Mr. Wallis as someone who both received money and paid other drivers for their participation in race fixing.
"Mr. Wallis’ admissions also constitute a violation of R431.1130. In particular, Mr. Wallis received things of value (i.e. liquor and cigars) for providing information to a gambler named Saleh Summa, and influencing nine races in which Mr. Wallis participated. This practice is known as 'touting,' in violation of R431.1125, and is evidenced by the stewards’ review of cell phone records, race charts and video replays, tote betting records, and W2G’s for nine races conducted at Hazel Park Harness Raceway in 2008 and 2009. Mr. Wallis also violated R431.1115 by not immediately reporting an 'offer of promise of a gratuity' or 'request or suggestion of a bribe' to the stewards or MGCB.
"Finally, Mr. Wallis failed to produce all bank records for calendar years 2008 and 2009 as requested in the May 10, 2010 MCGB summons served by the Florida Racing Commission, and the second summons issued to Mr. Wallis on June 4, 2010, by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. By failing to produce all of these documents at the time of the stewards’ hearing, Mr. Wallis has failed to comply with the conditions precedent for occupational licensing in Michigan as outlined in R431.1035."
Summa, as well as one owner and six horsemen, have already been suspended by the state's Gaming Control Board for their alleged participation in the race-fixing scandal.
(harnessracing.com)
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Anyone who thinks that
Anyone who thinks that Racing doesn't have it's issues with "questionable Races" is really kidding him/her self. Racing has been tarnished by all the past issues that have never really been addressed in the media. The public reads about the issue and there's never a follow up to state what the industry has done to the person or people involved.
Racing need to clean up there image. To do this, there has to be more press about the punishment then there was about the issue. racing needs to ban anyone no matter who they are for life for race fixing and drugging. Everyone in the industry knows the rules and it should be made clear that it you violate any of these rules your gone. It looks so bad when you see a trainer given 6 months for a positive test that has effected the outcome of the race. To the public it's no different then a driver / jockey involved in a fix.
Take a look at how the NBA handled their issue. Everyone knows exactly what happened to the ref in question
Wake up
Mr Gilders obviously sees
Mr Gilders obviously sees the world through rose colored glasses if the actually believes that there is or has not been race fixing in Ontario on both the thouroughbred side and the harness side. Like Mr. McKormick I too have been going to the track for over 35 years and nobody will convince me that there are not some very questionable drives or rides given frequently enough to make one wonder. Having said that it seems to me everyone is focused on race fixing as it pertains to drivers cashing a ticket. There are many instances (ie. eliminations for futre sstakes finals, taking money off your card to qulaify for a different class etc. etc) when a full effort is not given because the intent is to pick up a cheque. If I had a nickel for everytime I heard a trainer or dirver or jockey say , on tv no less that the intent was just to give the horse a race to tighten up for a final I'd be a rich man. When gamblers bet their money they are in theory supposed to be getting a tope effort each and every time. However we all know that is not nearly the case and if you ask me yes the bigger purses provided by the casinos make that easier because suddenly coming 4th or 5th is still a pretty good cheque to pay the bills with. as a gambler though I am not concerned with paying someones bills. I want to know the driver/jockey is full out to win the race and if anyone believes they actually do that every time then they are fooling themselves. And as far as I'm concerned when a driver/jockey is not giving a full effort that is race fixing as well whterh they cash a ticket or not.
Then we wonder why the handles are dropping big time.
Joe Riga
Dear Michigan Gaming
Dear Michigan Gaming board/ORC:
Can we revisit the sentencing - never mind the name and 9000 plus wins; pls ensure the public that the subject(s)involved will not have the opportunity to become repeat offenders.
Small purses? Just like any
Small purses? Just like any job, if you can't make it find something better!
@ Norm Brunet Are you
@ Norm Brunet
Are you serious? Because it's only a small % cheating, it's okay? For shame. Another nail please.
To those of you commenting
To those of you commenting on here that race fixing is a possibility and to those on here convinced it's a regular occurrence even on the top circuit I say no amount of proof that it doesn't happen and not likely to ever happen will change your minds. Truthfully if you sincerely believe this then please take your money and go somewhere else and stop coming back to the track night after night as many do. Yeah yeah I know but hey I've been going to the track for 40 years and have seen it all and heard it all and in the 10's of 1000's of races I've seen or had horses racing in (years ago) I can honestly say I've never seen a so called bad race. If Wallis and any other horsemen are involved in this than a lifetime suspension isn't enough punishment since they've have brought shame to thousands of people who have put their whole lives into racing horses. Jail time for these criminals absolutely but give me a break, racing as a criminal enterprise in the province of Ontario is a non-starter. Full pari-mutuel refund to those of you who believe otherwise please head to your local bookie or card game if you believe racing gives you a raw deal.
I'm involved with trying to bring new people and customers into the sport and it's a tough sale granted but the last thing I need is a bunch a malcontents sitting around after they've lost for the umpteenth time probably because their handicapping skills are suspect and blame everything on fixed races. Bad drives or driver error are a fact of life and you have to take that into account when wagering-- learned this the hard way maybe it's time some of you did.
In reply to To those of you commenting by dave gilders
Mr Gilders I was not stating
Mr Gilders
I was not stating that all races are fixed and certainly every handicapper has different skills. However it looks like many a bettor has taken note of comments like yours (take your money eleswhere). If you have not noticed, handles have been decreasing steadily over the past number of years and situations like the one in Michigan certainly will not help (especially for those who THINK that the races are fixed). I think you are very fortunate that you have never seen a bad race in the 40 years that you have been going to the track. My family has been involved in ownership and I have seen drivers pass each other tickets (at "B" tracks)after races. People passed me off as a disgruntled "poor handicapper" when I brought it to their attention. As in any business when the customer brings something to your attention (perceived or otherwise) you should attempt to do something about it. Cudos to those in Michigan.
In reply to Mr Gilders I was not stating by Randyman
I'm sorry to read
I'm sorry to read Mr.McCormick that you were given the brush off when you tried to bring something to somebody's attention. Believe me if someone comes to me with eye witness account of something I'll make sure the authorities deal with it and stay on them till they do or if not find out why not and believe me I am like a dog with a bone when I perceive indifference to any issue I bring forward. The trouble has been over the years everyone thinks they know something but won't step forward to report it and I've tried to impress upon them that they have a duty and obligation to. Believe me my experience tells me that so-called crooked horsemen in the province of Ontario would be less than 1% of the total and that has more to do with illicit pre-race drug use. I wasn't referring to legimate expressed concerns but to the lot who sit night after night probably in the same seat lose a couple of bucks and express how can they win when they know it's fixed. I too applaud Michigan for prosecuting the offenders and I would hope the same would happen here IF the situation were to ever arise.
Right as rain, Randy! Anyone
Right as rain, Randy!
Anyone naiive enough to think that big pools and big purses will stop people from race fixing is living in a fool's paradise. Huge pools only encourage more sophisticared and/or more nafarious cheaters to get involved. There are a plethora of examples of this fact all over the globe, from stiffing entries and allowing the longer-odds stablemate to pick up the win, to pick six computer scheming. The supposedly "top" harness track in the world, the Meadowlands, have most certainly had more than their share of bad publicity having to do with race fixing; or have we already forgotten?
Laughably, there was a suggestion recently to give up on the coupling of entries, and one reason given was that the judges were there to protect the public. I have always been the first to defend harness racing and its' integrity, but I am a realist. The fact is there are bad apples in every profession; contractors, politicians, police, and even priests.
Horsepeople at small tracks are as honest, hard-working and law-abiding as anyone anywhere, and to say otherwise is fascist and elitist.
In fact, tiny little pools at "B" tracks, where purses are far, far higher than the pools encourage a trainer, owner, and driver to send their horses, and rest assured, horsemen that go for $6,000 purses most often need that purse money much more than the priviledged and wealthy racing for a million dollars.
The regulators of the industry, from the bottom up, need to be far more vigilant in doing their jobs.'Nuff said
We can look at the the small
We can look at the the small purses and blame that for the race fixing. However even with the larger purses, it would not that far fetched to think that race fixing would or could not be profitable. For example the FFA at Mohawk goes for 50K. The winner receives 50% and the driver gets 5% of that. It amounts to $1250.00 (minus taxes) for the driver. If you are on the favourite and you run second, even with a small exactor say of 12.50, all you need is a $200 exactor to cover that. Not hard to hide or consider with the larger wagering pools at the big track. Here is the kicker. It is tax free and you still get a payday for running second. And human nature will tell you that if you can make a buck or two, tax free with little chance of getting caught......why not. Even easier to make more than your fees when the purse is not a FFA. Don't get me wrong here, I am not saying that all races are fixed and that all drivers are crooked, I am just saying that even with bigger purses there is still a benefit should a driver choose to go that route. As long as the potential is there that is what hurts the game. Unfortunately situations like this only lend credence to those who think that the racing is fixed.
In reply to We can look at the the small by Randyman
Any time money is involved
Any time money is involved corruption greed and dishonesty will be there. I don't see everybody selling their shares in the stockmarket because a stockbroker (sigh) got caught with his fingers in the cookie jar again. In my city 3 minor hockey executives have been caught in the last 5 years stealing from their local minor hockey associations and some in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Does everybody then quit hockey ! This is just part of our society and it goes on in all walks of life.
I don't think we need to throw ourselves off a bridge because of this. Consider the amount of races raced every year. These races would be a very very small percentage. The industry is well regulated and the culprits have been brought to justice. I doubt that any of these accused will be able to earn a living in the race industry again which is a large price to pay for a few thousand dollars earned dishonestly.
Ottawa.
Well there you have it
Well there you have it folks. Kevin Wallace over 9000 wins gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar - hey I know how easy it can be to get involved but we have to realize this race fixing has to stop it is going to stop because the betting public is just going to stop coming they already have our handles our terrible if it wasnt for casinos where would we be. I have being going to harness racing since I was 5 and can't beleive all the track closures poor attendance but hey we are our own worst enemies just another sad day for harness racing!!!
The future of harness racing
The future of harness racing rests with with the big tracks like Mohawk/Woodbine. Mutuel handles usually million plus each night which help to sustain itself. Strong purses. No need for drivers,trainers or owners to get caught up in race fixing because the money is already good. Look at Hazel Park, purses of $2,800-$4,000 in most cases. Thats a big reason for these problems. Can be hard to pay the horse bills each month when you may need more than one win each month just to break even and the drivers/trainers 5% from those purses is not great. Not so at the big tracks with the strong purses.
It does seem like harness
It does seem like harness racing is going in the toilet. Over the years, we have seen significant trainer and driver suspensions for a variety of reasons, feuds with ORC, OHHA and WEG and others. Wagering continues to decline year after year. No credibility remains. What will happen if a high profile WEG driver gets called on race fixing allegations..? GAME OVER
and there you have it race
and there you have it race fans....
I'm done.
I will no longer support Harness racing.
Good Bye
More lost fans.Well
More lost fans.Well respected veteran who was fairly successful over the years,but I guess not successful enough to resort to race fixing and stealing from the betting public.