JCA then charged trainer/Driver with conduct detrimental to racing.
THIS WAS PART OF THE LARGER POLICE INVESTIGATION WHICH DEXTER DUNN'S BROTHER AND A FEW OTHERS WERE SUPPOSEDLY INVOLVED BUT LATER FOUND OUT TO BE A BUNCH OF UTTER BULLSHIT PARTLY CAUSED BY A JEALOUS LOSER WHO WENT TO THE COPS.
The bottom line is he had two horses in race. The winner who was going to win anyway as he paid $1.30 to win and $1.00 to place. An anonymous bettor (one of his owners LOL) placed $27,252 of bets on every exotic bet, eg Triple, Double, P4 and superfectas. He won $37.057 back. The bettor intentionally left out the other McGrath runner which the trainer drove himself. Kinda odd because the first 4 favorites finished in the first4 as bet by the public. He was accused of pulling his horse Star Commander who was 2nd over out 3 wide on the turn to give his hot favorite a clear run. Sheriff (The Winner) didn't need that run as he found a gap on the inside and took that and won easy. These fucking retards had bugged his phones previously and used that in court and the charges were dropped. SO the Judicial Authority charged him. Below is part of the decision
ON THE TAPES HE WAS HEARD TELLING HIS OWNER, DON'T WORRY ABOUT STAR COMMANDER, HE WON'T GET IN SHERIFF'S WAY. So the bettor who is one of his owner's bets and leaves Star Commander out of his bets. In the conversation, it was implied that Star Commander was not good enough to get in the 1st 4 anyway. So basically the police had to eat shit and the charges dropped
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(4) The Respondent trained several horses for the connections of the talented horse SHERIFF. One of those was a limited liability company of which “A” (and we suppress his actual identity) was manager and he was regarded by the Respondent and treated by him as an owner. Mr McGrath also trained the horse STAR COMMANDER of which his family were primary owners. Both horses were to compete in Race 11 at Addington on 31st March 2018, which was won easily by SHERIFF with STAR COMMANDER being unplaced, driven by Mr McGrath. The raceday Stipendiary Stewards were concerned over the manner in which the he drove STAR COMMANDER, and he was interviewed shortly after the race and asked to explain the reasons why his horse, STAR COMMANDER, shifted ground outwards on the final bend in what appeared to be an attempt to give SHERIFF, running just behind him, an easier passage in the home straight. The Respondent said his horse shifted out under pressure but said that he had not intended this to happen. The Inquiry was adjourned until the next week and it was elected that no charges follow but Mr McGrath was advised that in future it was expected that he drive in a more competitive and controlled manner than he had done in this race.
(5) Unbeknown at that time to the Stewards or Inspectors of Harness Racing and the RIU, a police operation pursuant to an Interception Warrant issued by a High Court Judge, had, amongst other things, revealed telephone conversations between Mr McGrath and “A” on 29 March 2018 (first from “A” to the Respondent) and on 30 March 2018 (from the Respondent to “A") and 31 March 2018 (from the Respondent to “A”). The Respondent then faced a criminal charge in the Christchurch District Court – we are told with others - which eventually was resolved by acceptance by the prosecution and with the consent of Mr McGrath and his lawyer, that the tapes and transcripts of such conversations be given to the Harness Racing Authority so that it might deal with any professional conduct matters within the Code/Industry.
So, as a result the police offered no evidence against Mr McGrath in Court. For completeness we add that he and his lawyers already had those transcripts and tapes.
And the end result is below with McGrath having to pay 50% of the total costs incurred in this long inquiry
SUMMARY OF OUTCOME
(a) Mr McGrath, in accordance with his plea is guilty of improper driving on Information A7520 in breach of Rule 869(3)(f).
(b) He is suspended from holding or obtaining a Drivers Licence pursuant to Rule 1003(1) for a period of six months to end after racing on 31 July 2020.
(c) He is ordered to pay the sums of $9,500 to the RIU and $2,000 to the JCA towards the costs of the proceedings.
Dated at Wellington this 10th day of February 2020
HERE IS RACE IN QUESTION BELOW:
https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/infohorsews/wsd06x?Arg=hrnzg-Ptype&Arg=RaceVideo&Arg=hrnzg-RacehdrID&Arg=250458&Arg=hrnzg-rSite&Arg=TRUE
