Always back the horse named self-interest, son. It'll be the only one trying
On paper after the draw the A.G. Hunter Cup looks to be a two horse race between Catch a Wave and Leap to Fame, and maybe a one horse race at that. The prevailing logic is that Catch a Wave leads off the gate, and then gives up the front to Leap to Fame and […]
On 29 January 2024, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) held a Directions Hearing concerning the matter of Ms Emma Stewart. Ms Stewart had previously appealed against the severity of the Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards’ decision of 5 December 2023 to disqualify her for six (6) months. The media release relating to the HRV Stewards’ […]
This is what the Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner reported in relation to his investigation into the conduct of the HRV CEO in relation to allegations about certain matters. We accept the Commissioner’s findings into the CEO’ s conduct, and do not dispute them, But we very sternly question the Commissioner’s finings as to the broader […]
Want a tip for free? Back every horse that Emma Stewart or Clayton Tonkin start up until her appeal against the 6 month DQ is heard. This pair are doing what is called making hay while the sun shines, which is Aussie trot language means winning as much money as they can while they can, […]
“Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk” – Henry David Thoreau This is the full decision of the Victorian Racing Appeals Tribunal in the matter of the Emma Stewart stay. As we told you, the HRV integrity team have stuffed up. Emma might somehow get away with […]
It took HRV a while, but it appears that they have finally stepped up to the plate. I suspect that the harnessweb program for transfer of trainers isn’t up to scratch for recognising a disqualified trainer on a stay, and that it just allowed the trainer change as it would any other uncontroversial trainer trainer […]
Over the course of the past two months this website published a number of stories alleging potential misconduct relation to conflicts of interest between the personal and professional activities of Mr Matthew Isaacs in his role as CEO of Harness Racing Victoria. These stories were based on information from multiple sources, and were written based […]
Background In November 2023, Harness Racing Victoria referred a matter to the Racing Integrity Commissioner concerning serious allegations about its CEO, Mr Matthew Isaacs, and the operation of its integrity department. Specifically, that Mr Isaacs: • awarded a professional services contract to a company whose sole director was a close, personal friend and part-owner of […]
This is the HRV policy on what happens to the horses of trainers who are disqualified. They can’t ne transferred to the DQ’d licensees’ partner. So How can Clay get Emma’s horses? Because the Harness Racing Victoria integrity bosses Peter Chadwick (Chief Steward) and Rhys Harrison (Integrity Manager) obviously don’t know their own rules or […]
There is little doubt that Damian Sheales is the highest profile and, on sheer volume, most successful racing appeals practitioner south of the Murray River, and – as he showed yet again in winning Emma Stewart a stay of her disqualification on Friday – one of the reasons why is his ability to state the […]
