Police called in on horse swap investigation

South Australian Police are investigating last Saturday night’s ‘horse swap’ situation at Globe Derby.

Harness Racing South Australia stewards sought an independent investigation into potential breaches of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act.

Meanwhile HRSA stewards have continued their investigation with further evidence taken from respective parties in an inquiry last Wednesday.

The background is HRSA stewards discovered that the horse Lets Get Shorty contested race five on September 4 instead of stablemate Jakes Sportwriter.

Stewards unearthed this shortly after race five when the horse that raced as ‘Jakes Sportwriter’ finished last.

To put things into perspective, Jakes Sportwriter is a bay/brown gelding with a National Rating of 77 and Lets Get Shorty is a brown gelding with a National Rating of 49.

Trainer Shane Loone had three horses in race five including the winner Crookwell Jake, Star Writer and ‘Jakes Sportwriter’.

Loone had seven horses engaged at Globe Derby that night.

He as absent from the race meeting “due to health reasons”, however, trainer Wayne Gowley and stablehand Andrew Ward represented the stable.

Betting and phone records are being examined.

HRSA stewards took evidence from Gowely, Ward, starter E Johnson and veterinary surgeon Dr R Haensel and driver Wayne Hill on the night of the race meeting.

To view the HRSA stewards report from the meeting click here.

Below is the latest update from HRSA following last Wednesday’s inquiry:

“Harness Racing South Australia Stewards have continued their investigations into the circumstances in which the registered horse LETS GET SHORTY contested Race 5 at Globe Derby Park on Saturday 4th September 2021 in place of stablemate, JAKES SPORTSWRITER.   

On Wednesday 8 September 2021 Stewards heard further evidence from Trainers S Loone and W Gowley and Stablehand A Ward as well as the drivers who drove the three Loone trained runners, W Hill, D Smith and MA Smith.  The Steward’s investigations have been widened to include whether subsequent to Race 5 there was an attempt by parties to conceal the substitution. 

During the hearing Mr Loone explained that he had intended to only transport horses to and from the race meeting as advised but acknowledged he had spent a short period on course. 

In addition, Stewards have ordered the registered horses JAKES SPORTWRITER and LETS GET SHORTY be stood down for a period of twenty-eight days which will remain subject to review.

Records from all betting agencies which operated on the Globe Derby race meeting are being examined together with the Pari-Mutuel records for Trifecta, Pick 4 and Quadrella betting.

In addition, Stewards have sought an independent investigation by SAPOL Officers to access broader powers of investigation to identify whether potential breaches of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act [SA] have occurred.  SAPOL will examine whether breaches of Sections of the Act including 144H—Engaging in conduct that corrupts betting outcome of event; 144I—Facilitating conduct that corrupts betting outcome of event; and 144J—Concealing conduct or agreement.   

HRSA’s approach to SAPOL occurred following ongoing discussions regarding cooperation between the parties and indicates that the Stewards and HRSA Board are committed to ensuring a thorough, independent investigation into this matter. Results of the full investigation are pending and will be released once finalised.   Graham Loch, Acting Chief Steward South Australian Harness Racing.”

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink