interesting story new zealand harness racing coruption

[davenchop]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/police-raid-10-harness-racing-stables-across-new-zealand-20180904-p501np.html

[TimTimTimbo]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/106807066/police-raid-10-harness-racing-stables-in-canterbury-manawatu-and-invercargill

One major bettor and horse owner says "It's nonsense" ... We will see won't we.

I was just about to post about this. Supposed to be a bunch arrested,

They have been to Purdon's John Dunn so that include his father Robert. Also involves the top driver in New Zealand Blair Orange according to the above linked article. This investigation appears to have started in APril 2017.  One thing about the cops and the Integrity unit. They will weed out those responsible.  Thge penaltys will be very severe.

Mark Purdon said he was not questioned and it not involved.

[TTitans1]

A lot of the new pre-races have been coming from down under for a long time.

[oh canada]

A lot of the new pre-races have been coming from down under for a long time.

The best always was and will always be Canadian Made!!!

[TTitans1]

Canada leads it but Australia has come a long way especially in hormones and steroids.

[TimTimTimbo]

There is just as much corruption and drugs Down Under as there is in North America. The difference is if caught Down Under, jail time is a possibility while in North America if caught, you get a 3 page spread in Hoof Beats and 10 new owners.

That pretty much nails it.

[TimTimTimbo]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12119144

Looks like Dexter Dunn's home was raided as well

Also they are interested in this guy who was taking the OTB for a ride for years
_________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ ____________
The luxury property of Christchurch racehorse owner, punter and car sales businessman Graham Beirne is also among those whose properties were raided in the investigation.

Late yesterday Beirne told the Herald by text from Bali, where he is on holiday that he had been "advised against any further discussions with the media".

Christchurch racehorse owner, punter and car sales businessman Graham Beirne told the Herald by text from Bali, where he is on holiday, that he had been "advised against any further discussions with the media"
He earlier told Stuff that he was a suspect. "All I have to say is one word: nonsense. I don't know where it's coming from. If they are talking race-fixing, it's nonsense".

In 2014 the TAB moved to restrict Beirne's betting because the agency was losing "a significant amount of money" on his fixed-odds betting.

It sought to limit Beirne to maximum wins of $2000.

Beirne told Stuff at the time: "On the one hand they're complaining about leakage - don't bet overseas, they say, but you can only back losers in New Zealand - 'You can play in our sandpit but only if you lose'."

The TAB said it was standard practice around the world for corporate bookmakers to restrict winning punters.

Beirne has been involved in harness racing for more than 50 years and has said he puts $1 million into the industry every year through 25 racehorses, plus broodmares and sponsorship.

Anderson also appealed for anyone with information about race-fixing or match fixing to come forward.

"We treat race-fixing as a very serious offence which is why our police organised crime group has been involved."

He said he couldn't speculate on whether the race-fixing was more widespread. "In this case we had a certain number of individuals."

Purdon told the Herald that he had not been questioned by police and had no issue with them looking over his property.

"As far as race-fixing goes I know there's nothing involved there, but I'm quite comfortable. But as I say, they weren't that interested in me."

[TimTimTimbo]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/106830745/Seven-charged-in-harness-racing-probe

7 charged so far Deception by Race Fixing and Class B drugs

Reading between the lines some very prominent drivers and trainers could be going down.  They talk about a 41yo women supplying drugs and seem to imply below that that is Natalie Rasmussen who along with Mark Purdon are the best trainers in Southern Hemisphere. Innocent until proven otherwise

[TimTimTimbo]

Here's the race they say was fixed

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/09/watch-nelson-race-at-the-centre-of-police-probe-into-harness-match-fixing-allegations.html


2nd Fav wins with 6th, 7th and 8th in better running 2nd, 3rd and 4th in field of 11.

Blair Orange 1st, Dexter Dunn 2nd.

The favorite trained by Dexter's father ran down the track and the 5th horse driven by Dexter's brother.

The favorite has only won 3 of 28 so without watching the full race they must have incriminating evidence on someone because nothing untoward there with the results.

[TimTimTimbo]

One guy charged with race fixing and MDMA (ecstacy) LOL

[TimTimTimbo]

LOL, They are saying they are looking at the NZ Derby as part of race fixing.

The New Zealand Derby at Addington, Christchurch, is one of the races being looked at as part of the alleged harness race-fixing probe.

Sources have told Stuff the race is part of the investigation and that people interviewed were asked about phone communications that had been monitored by the police.

The NZ Derby for three–year–old pacers, that carries $200,000 prize money,  is one of the most important events in the harness racing calendar. The race in April was won by Sheriff driven by Blair Orange and trained by Nigel McGrath.

Four other men aged 34, 40, 41 and 44 were due to appear in Christchurch District Court on Tuesday next week on match-fixing charges. Stuff understands the men are Nigel McGrath, John Dunn, Blair Orange and Andrew Stuart.

A 41-year-old woman would appear in court the same day on two counts of supplying Class B drugs. Stuff understands she is champion driver Natalie Rasmussen.

I guess she is in deep shit.  Looks like Mark Purdon is in the clear at the moment. If so I bet he's pissed at her.

[TimTimTimbo]

Here's the race they say was fixed

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/09/watch-nelson-race-at-the-centre-of-police-probe-into-harness-match-fixing-allegations.html


2nd Fav wins with 6th, 7th and 8th in better running 2nd, 3rd and 4th in field of 11.

Blair Orange 1st, Dexter Dunn 2nd.

The favorite trained by Dexter's father ran down the track and the 5th horse driven by Dexter's brother.

The favorite has only won 3 of 28 so without watching the full race they must have incriminating evidence on someone because nothing untoward there with the results.

OK,  so here is more on that race and who they are accusing
'
Trainer and driver Matt Anderson, 26, is in custody pending an appearance in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday afternoon on match-fixing and drug charges.

Anderson is widely regarded as one of harness racing's brightest young prospects. He has been charged with possession and supply of MDMA (Ecstasy) and jointly charged with Blair Nathan Orange with manipulating the overall result of race 11 at Nelson Harness Racing Club on June 8 2018 by not attempting to win with Johnny White and allowing Storm Prince to win.

The charge alleges he intended to influence the betting outcome causing loss in excess of $1000 to other persons including other participants in the race and the betting public.

[TimTimTimbo]

Rasmussen is one half of the most successful training partnership harness racing in New Zealand has seen.

In partnership with Mark Purdon, Rasmussen has trained the winners of three of the last four New Zealand Trotting Cups – two of them with champion pacer Lazarus – and dominated the lucrative two and three-year-old racing scene.

They are two of the biggest names in the sport worldwide. Since forming the partnership with Purdon in 2014, the pair has trained runners to win more than $19.8m in prize money.

Before relocating to New Zealand from Australia to join Purdon in a training partnership, Rasmussen trained and drove champion pacer Blacks A Fake to four Inter Dominion victories in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

The Inter Dominion is the richest race in Australasia. She and Purdon trained the last two winners of the race with Smolda and Lazarus.

[TimTimTimbo]

Apparently Rasmussen and the ecstacy is nothing to do with the race fixing and she was caught up in the wider net which snared the fixers.  Recreational and nothing to do with horses.

[njracer]

Clearly Dexter Dunn is involved, with his brother and guy he drove to every track with, already being charged...  Amazing he's still allowed to drive with this investigation going on..     Only way he survives this, is if he flipped and made a deal