Interfere Inquiry Summation

Racing NSW stewards yesterday issued their summation into their findings of the Inerfere Inquiry held since the running of the Rotary Health Research Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on 6th May 2006.

The Inquiry:

On Saturday, 6th May 2006 at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Racing NSW Stewards opened an inquiry into the running of Race 1, the Rotary Health Research Handicap, won by the two-year-old filly Interfere, trained by Mr Tim Martin and ridden by Jim Cassidy.

In particular the Stewards expressed concern with the easy mid-race sectionals afforded to the leader, Interfere and also that on-pace runners raced wide throughout, principally Toliva and Admirelle.

Evidence was taken from Admirelle's rider, Hugh Bowman, and stable representative Ms Tanya Rouse, Toliva's rider, apprentice jockey William Pearson, and trainer Mr Kris Lees, and from Throne Inn's rider Dale Spriggs.

The inquiry was adjourned so that Stewards could examine betting records and subsequently a full betting analysis of the race was compiled by Betting Steward Mr Terry Griffin.

On Thursday, 25th May 2006, the inquiry resumed at Racing NSW offices, Mascot, whereby Mr Tim Martin, trainer of Interfere and stable client Mr Eddie Hayson were questioned regarding their betting activities on the Rotary Health Research Handicap and also whether they had contact leading up to the race with jockeys or trainers involved in that event. Both complied with a request to table telephone records relative to the period leading up to and including raceday.

Mr Hayson was asked to provide full details to confirm his betting transactions and bets placed on his behalf on Interfere. Mr Hayson submitted to the inquiry that his level of investment on Interfere was not inconsistent with his established betting patterns.

The inquiry resumed on Friday, 26th May 2006, when licensed jockey Hugh Bowman was called again and questioned concerning his association with Mr Hayson and his communications with Mr Hayson in the week leading up to the race. He was also requested to provide telephone records.

On Friday, 2nd June 2006, licensed trainer Mr Graeme Rogerson, who trains horses for Mr Hayson, and Graeme Rogerson's foreperson Ms Debbie Price, were called before the inquiry and questioned concerning betting activities on the race and betting activities on behalf of Mr Hayson.

The inquiry resumed on Monday, 26th June 2006, whereby trainer Mr Tim Martin, Mr Eddie Hayson and licensed jockeys Hugh Bowman (Admirelle), Dale Spriggs (Throne Inn), Zac Purton (Danleigh), licensed apprentice jockey William Pearson (Toliva), stable foreperson Mr Pat Sexton (Admirelle) and (by teleconference) licensed trainer Mr Kris Lees (Toliva) were questioned.

Telephone records submitted by Mr Eddie Hayson, William Pearson, Mr Tim Martin and Hugh Bowman were considered, and all were questioned relative to communications leading up to and on raceday.

At the inquiry, apprentice William Pearson was assisted by Mr Martin, and stable representative Ms Tanya Rouse appeared to represent the interests of trainer Mrs Gai Waterhouse (Admirelle).

On Saturday, 1st July at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, the inquiry continued when Mr Craig Ahrens (by teleconference), Mr Nathan Hayden, a licensed bookmakers clerk, and Peter Barrett, a licensed jockeys manager, were questioned concerning betting activities on the Rotary Health Research Handicap and also regarding communications with parties of interest to the inquiry.

Licensed jockey Jim Cassidy (Interfere) and licensed trainer Mr Gary Portelli (O'Crikey) were questioned concerning communication with Mr Eddie Hayson leading up to the particular event. Jim Cassidy was requested to provide copies of telephone records which were subsequently handed to the Stewards on Wednesday, 19th July 2006.

The Evidence:

Having exhausted all avenues of inquiry the Stewards have given full consideration to the following;

i) evidence of all parties taken in six sittings of the investigation.

ii) patrol videos of the Rotary Health Research Handicap and videos of relevant lead-up races of the horses concerned.

iii) betting records of the aforementioned event sourced from all betting entities across all states of Australia.

iv) telephone records of parties provided to the inquiry.

The Finding:

The evidence gathered during the course of their investigation by itself in the view of the Stewards is incapable of demonstrating that any person entered into any improper arrangement or agreement with regard to the running of the Rotary Health Research Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on 6th May 2006.

Whilst the activities of a number of parties, in the view of the Stewards, creates suspicion, suspicion is clearly not the test for charging or convicting.

Furthermore, whilst the investigation revealed communication, and in some instances the exchange of information, the evidence currently before the Stewards falls short of establishing that pecuniary or other consideration was involved. However, what the investigation exposed was a worrying feature in the development and nurturing of relationships between punters and licensed persons.

Giving due regard to the high standard of proof required, the evidence gathered currently falls short of the necessary level of satisfaction needed to issue charges of prejudicial conduct.

Whilst the Stewards today issue this preliminary finding, they clearly indicate that the inquiry is not closed as should evidence come to hand that is of significance then the matter will be revisited.

The Stewards also directed themselves to the conduct of the race itself as to whether the activities of any rider or riders supported the laying of a charge under the rules of racing. In deciding that the evidence did not support such action they had particular regard to the following facts:

i) W Pearson, rider of Toliva, rode aggressively from the barrier to go forward but when Dulcina (K O'Hara), which was over racing improved quickly through on his inside in the run to the first turn, Toliva was not in a position to cross Dulcina. W Pearson would necessarily have had to again make use of his mount to press forward to clear Dulcina to cross to race one out. Whilst the Stewards advised W Pearson that they felt he had erred in not continuing on and crossing Dulcina rather than racing three wide, in their view those actions of W Pearson in themselves were not regarded in the circumstances as being blameworthy.

ii) The actions of W Pearson (Toliva) had a direct bearing on the actions of H Bowman (Admirelle) which after being crossed quickly by Interfere (J Cassidy) and Toliva (W Pearson in the early stages was left four wide when Toliva subsequently did not cross Dulcina and continued to race three wide. The riding of H Bowman on Admirelle from the barrier was consistent with instructions given and consistent with the manner he had ridden the filly from the barrier at its two previous starts. To have pressed forward to obtain a position closer to the rails would have required Admirelle to improve its position in the order of three lengths. Again whilst the ride of H Bowman in the view of the Stewards lacked initiative in the circumstances it could not be deemed blameworthy.

iii) Throne Inn (D Spriggs) was trapped very wide and restrained early. D Spriggs commenced to urge Throne Inn forward prior to the turn and in the straight was somewhat restricted in his ability to ride his mount out due to it laying in under pressure.

iv) Danleigh (Z Purton) was held up for a run until the 200 metres whereby Zac Purton took the first available opportunity to improve his position and test his mount.

It is the view of the Stewards, that unhealthy contact between punters and licensed persons particularly jockeys, stable employees and jockey managers, requires greater industry consideration and scrutiny. The Stewards also consider it critical that the appropriateness of the current rules be reviewed.

Currently, Stewards not only must show that a transfer of information took place but also they must reach a particularly high standard of satisfaction before determining that some pecuniary or other consideration was present in that exchange.

In this review process Racing NSW, on behalf of its Stewards will make representations on this subject to the upcoming review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 (NSW) with a view to the granting of additional powers to Stewards so that they are best armed to ensure the integrity of the New South Wales thoroughbred racing industry.

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