No horse means French cops $500 fine

The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards today inquired into the training particulars of the horse Atego Turbo and the circumstances surrounding its late scratching from Race 9 at the Ballarat harness meeting on 13 February 2015.

At the inquiry evidence was taken from licenced trainer Terry French, registered owner and licenced stablehand Jess Fothergill, licenced trainer Ronald Francis as well as HRV Senior Steward Shane Larkins.

After considering all the evidence tendered at the inquiry Mr French was charged under Australian Rule of Harness Racing (ARHR) 119C (1) which reads:

A trainer shall not without the prior approval of the Stewards stable any horse trained by him in any location other than any registered training establishment of the trainer.

The particulars of the charge being that when inspected by HRV Stewards on the morning of 13 February 2015, Atego Turbo was not stabled at the registered training establishment of Terry French and approval was not obtained for the horse to be stabled at any other location.

Mr French pleaded guilty to the charge and after considering submissions regarding penalty, the HRV Stewards imposed a fine of $500.

In assessing penalty, Stewards considered the particular circumstances of the matter, Mr French’s guilty plea, his forthright evidence during the investigation and his offence record over a long period in the industry.

Stewards also adjourned an inquiry into the licence status of Ms Fothergill to enable further investigations to be undertaken.

Harness Racing Victoria