Industry & stewards wrap: GRV send Bate back to the outer

March 31, 2015, 5:48 pm

≫ Next: News wrap: Newson says animal cruelty will be stamped out

GREYHOUND Racing Victoria (GRV) has announced they have recommenced the three year disqualification handed down to former champion trainer Graeme Bate following an investigation into an alleged breach of Greyhounds Australasia Rule (GAR) 99 (3) (g) which found he did enter or remain on a property where greyhounds were being kept.

Bate had previously been disqualified by the Racing Appeals and Disiplinary Board (RADB) for two years on June 10, 2014. He was found guilty on six charges including deliberately administering a prohibited substance to a racing greyhound, failing to present a greyhound free of a prohibited substance to race, making false or misleading statements to Stewards and procuring Hysone tablets containing the prohibited substance Hydrocortison for the purpose of administering to greyhounds.

The RADB was informed that between August 2012 and July 2013 Bate procured 6000 20mg Hysone tablets on behalf of another trainer, his son-in-law Peter Hunt, and administered hydrocortisone, in the form of the tablets, to Hunt’s dogs without his knowledge or permission.

It was revealed Bate obtained up to 7200 hysone 20mg tablets between May 2012 and April 2013, with the tablets thought to have performance enhancing benefits including reducing inflammation and fatigue and increasing resistance to pain.

The disqualification came the year after Bate was suspended after one of his dogs returned a positive swab to an elevated level of testosterone.

If that wasn’t enough, GRV Stewards then decided to appeal the RADB’s decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on the grounds that they felt the penalty was too lenient. The VCAT then increased the disqualification to a period of three years on October 21, 2014.

However, with the new developments, Bate’s disqualification period has now recommended as of February 27, 2015, effectively re-starting the sentence.

The CEO of GRV, Adam Wallish, said rule breaches within the greyhound racing industry will not be tolerated.

“If you break the rules in greyhound racing you will be caught and you will be punished,” Wallish said.

“There’s is no place in this sport for people that believe they can get away with rule breaches.

“Our investigatory and enforcement arm will identify people that aren’t doing the right thing and will bring forward cases against them.”

GRV have told Australian Racing Greyhound that Bate’s penalty will not have any effect on trainer Jenny Hunt, who took over the training of his large team of greyhounds when he was disqualified.

Hunt has Dawkins Bale engaged in Saturday night’s $250,000-to-the-winner Golden Easter Egg final at Wentworth Park.

IN SA, Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) Stewards announced all greyhounds trained by Karen Bearpark are prohibited from racing until further notice following on from a kennel inspection conducted at her property on March 26, 2015.

GRSA advised that they will be conducting an inquiry into the matter with details including a date and time to be advised, but refuse to release any further details.

The annoucement caused the scratchings of 10 dogs from the Gawler meeting on Sunday and three from the Gawler meeting on Tuesday.

Bearpark is the partner of leading SA greyhound veterinarian, John Katakasi, and is a veterinary nurse at the Adelaide Plains Veterinary Clinic.

IN QUEENSLAND, 25-year-old James Harding appeared before the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday and was charged with six counts of serious animal cruelty.

The case was adjourned for a committal hearing on July 1, 2015.

Harding was one of six greyhound racing participants who were warned off for life following on from the live-baiting scandal which has engulfed the entire greyhound racing industry. The charges come after Tom Noble, whose private trial track was at the centre of the saga, faced court on similar animal cruelty charges earlier this month.

The Queensland State Government introduced the offence of serious animal cruelty in 2014, with a guilty verdict carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in gaol.

Also in Queensland, four suspended greyhound trainers avoided life bans on Tuesday after their respective inquiries concluded and found there was insufficient evidence to lay serious charges against them in relation to engaging in improper practices of live baiting.

Anthony Hess, Stephen Sherwell, Mick Emery and Stephen Arnold were all charged with a breach of Local Rule 52(3) which reads:

“A licensed or registered person who takes, or permits a greyhound in respect of which he is licensed or registered or which is under his control to be on a training track that is not operated by a Club or licensed training track proprietor, shall be guilty of an offence.”

Each trainer pleaded guilty to the charge, with Racing Queensland Stewards determining that each had already served an adequate suspension for the charge, subsequently lifting their embargoes immediately.

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News wrap: Newson says animal cruelty will be stamped out

April 7, 2015, 2:30 am

≫ Next: Wheeler removes his dogs after Nicole Davis returns positive swab

≪ Previous: Industry & stewards wrap: GRV send Bate back to the outer

THE stand-in CEO of Greyhound Racing New South Wales, Paul Newson, has received an interim report from Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Madden into claims that greyhounds had been shot in the head for $50 and dumped into a pit at a property in the Hunter Valley.

Newson said the matter will now be passed onto NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mark Jenkins and the RSPCA, while he would also be handing over Madden’s report to the Special Commission of Inquiry which has been established to address issues of animal cruelty and integrity within the sport in the state.

The current owner of the Hunter Valley property in question, who purchased the site just prior to the discovery of the graves, declined to comment to Australian Racing Greyhound but told The Maitland Mercury skulls had been found buried just 10cm below the surface, with one skull said to have still had fur on it.

The property owner said both the RSPCA and Greyhound Racing NSW had visited the burial site and had conducted investigations.

“Within 10 to 15 minutes they walked on the property and found the first mass grave site,” the property owner said.

“I had no idea, it was so overwhelming.”

Newson, who stepped into the hot seat at GRNSW when Brent Hogan resigned, has now asked for anyone who has evidence of animal welfare concerns within the greyhound racing industry to contact the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Hotline to enable a full investigation into any claims. His calls for information come after a mass grave was found near Bundaberg, Queensland, last week which is believed to contain the carcasses of at least 55 greyhounds.

“The discovery near Bundaberg last week was deeply concerning and I would urge anyone who believes there are similar cases in NSW to contact the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Hotline immediately to ensure the mis-treatment of animals can be eradicated from the sport of greyhound racing for good,” Newson said.

“If any evidence of mass graves emerges in NSW, GRNSW will cooperate fully with the NSW Police and RSPCA NSW to ensure the matter can be properly investigated and individuals found to have been involved in animal cruelty are held accountable.”

Another mass grave site was discovered in Victoria in 2009 but, despite the Victorian RSPCA being called in to investigate, they were unable to proceed further with the case as a lack of evidence prevented them from establishing the cause of death of the greyhounds.

The treatment of animals in the greyhound industry has come under fire recently following on from the ABC’s Four Corners program titled ‘Making A Killing’, which exposed the practice of live-baiting within the sport.

Shortly after it was aired in February, the NSW Government announced the formation of a Special Commision of Inquiry last month to investigate issues of animal welfare and integrity within the sport.

Jenny Hunt hearing to be held at the end of April

Leading trainer Jenny Hunt will appear before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) on April 29 after her greyhound, Jubilea Bale, returned a positive swab sample at Warragul on January 17, 2015.

The swab was analysed by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) and was found to contain the presence of permanently banned substances amphetamine, methamphetamine and its metabolites.

Jubilea Bale was then scratched from her engagement at Sandown Park on February 5, 2015, by order of stewards after they were notified of the swab irregularity. At that time, the reserve and control samples had not been tested, while it was said that Jubilea Bale would be unable to compete until she returned a sample that did not breach Greyhounds Australasia rules.

The daughter of Collision and Nelly Bale has not raced since, with Hunt facing the Board for a breach of GAR83(2)(3) which reads:

The owner, trainer or person in charge of a greyhound-
1. (a) nominated to compete in an Event;
2. (b) presented for a satisfactory, weight or whelping trial or such other trial as provided for pursuant to these Rules; or
3. (c) presented for any test or examination for the purpose of a period of incapacitation or prohibition being varied or revoked
shall present the greyhound free of any prohibited substance.
(3) The owner, trainer or person in charge of a greyhound presented contrary to sub-rule (2) shall be guilty of an offence.

Hunt is the daughter-in-law of former champion trainer Graeme Bate and took over the training of his large team of greyhounds when he was disqualified for a period of three years over a range of offences relating to prohibited substances.

One of Hunt’s greyhounds, Dawkins Bale, ran second in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg on Saturday night, picking up $62,500 for connections.

Glen Canty, GRV’s general manager of integrity, racing and welfare has previously told Australian Racing Greyhound that the authority body would not tolerate any rule breaches in relation to prohibited substances.

“GRV has stated on many occasions that it has a zero-tolerance attitude to the use of drugs in our sport to affect the performance of greyhounds,” he said.

Pop The Cork set for racetrack return

Pop The Cork, one of the greyhounds implicated by the live-baiting scandal, will make his racetrack return at Albion Park this Thursday night.

Formerly trained by Reg Kay who has been issued a lifetime ban for his involvement in the fiasco, Pop The Cork is now under the care of Peter Ruetschi and will jump from box five in the first race over 520-metres.

The son of Brett Lee and Ima Geisha Girl has had three stewards trials, with his most recent being a slick 30.12 trial at Albion Park on Sunday.

Pop The Cork set tongues wagging in his only two starts to date, winning his heat and semi-final of the Group 2 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden at Ipswich in 30.34 and 30.16 respectively. He was then removed from the final after Kay was suspended by Racing Queensland.

Maitland Gold Cup attracts eight heats

Eight heats of the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup will be run at the Hunter Valley circuit this Friday night over the 450-metre trip. Notable nominations for the series include Winsome Mission (heat two – box four), Spacecraft (heat six – box three), the unbeaten Black Frenzy (heat seven – box six), Race A Chaser syndication’s Megan Keeping (heat eight – box one) and boom sprinter Winsome Prince (heat eight – box three).

Each heat winner will progress through to the following Friday’s final which is worth $40,000-to-the-winner.

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Wheeler removes his dogs after Nicole Davis returns positive swab

June 4, 2015, 2:21 am

≫ Next: Dailly’s probable record training feat at The Meadows

≪ Previous: News wrap: Newson says animal cruelty will be stamped out

SUPERSTAR sprinter Dyna Villa will be scratched from this Sunday’s Group 2 Horsham Cup final as owner Paul Wheeler removes all of his greyhounds from trainer Nicole Davis’ property after her license was suspended by Greyhound Racing Victoria Stewards on Wednesday.

  Davis’ suspension comes after one of her other dogs owned by Wheeler, Graff Bale, returned a positive swab sample to the prohibited substance amphetamine at The Meadows on April 29, 2015.

  While the reserve portion of the sample is yet to be tested, GRV Chairman Ray Gunston spoke out on the findings on Thursday afternoon.

“It is appalling that another preliminary swab has come back with an irregular result for amphetamine,” Gunston said.

“The rigorous swabbing and testing procedures GRV undertake have again been able to identify an irregularity which now needs to be the subject of further testing.

“We test out-of-competition, pre-race and post-race and we also freeze and store samples. Anyone wanting to gain an unfair advantage will be caught.”

Wheeler, the owner of all the greyhounds involved in the saga, spoke to Australian Racing Greyhound on Thursday night, confirming his dogs will all be moved off the property and will go to other trainers to continue their careers.

  “If I wanted to keep racing my dogs they had to be shifted, so all of the greyhounds on Nicole Davis’ property will be moved to my various other trainers in Victoria,” Wheeler said.

  Wheeler has made the decision to scratch all of his greyhounds nominated to race under Davis’ name, including dual Group 1 winner Dyna Villa which will now miss the Horsham Cup, a race the greyhound is second favourite for.

  Dyna Villa will now head to leading Victorian mentor Andrea Dailly, who also puts the polish on Wheeler’s freakish speedster, Fernando Bale.   

“It was a mutual agreement [between Wheeler and GRV] to scratch the dogs,” Wheeler revealed.

  “I didn’t think it was fair on the trainer, the punter or the dog to move kennels and then have to race on such short notice.   

“The shift in kennels can take a fair bit of getting used to so it would be unfair for the trainer to have that responsibility and unfair for the punter to take the risk.”

The news of Davis’ positive swab hits barely a month after Jenny Hunt, who was formerly training the large team of greyhounds Davis took over on the same property, received an 18 month disqualification when one of her greyhounds returned a positive sample to amphetamine and methamphetamine, commonly known as ice.

Hunt herself took over the large training operation at Lara after her father-in-law, legendary trainer Graeme Bate, was disqualified for a number of prohibited substance charges in 2014.
 
Wheeler believes the positive swabs were not a deliberate attempt by the trainer to enhance the performance of the greyhounds.

  “I don’t think any of it has been purposely done,” he said.

“I think its a contamination issue or a situation where the kennel has been nobbled — either way there is a crack in the system at the training establishment.

  “We have been looking at the whole situation very seriously, even though a lot of people think we haven’t been.

“Since Jenny [Hunt] got the first positive we had been in contact with a company to look at drug testing the employees working on the property because we thought it might have been a contamination issue.”

Wheeler, whose greyhounds have won 10 Group races and over $800,000 in prize money so far in 2015, also confirmed he would consider selling his stock to China for the right offer.

  “I went to China and had a look around at their set up. The way things are going I said to them that if anyone offered me the right money that I would sell it all, including the stud dogs,” he said.

  “I have had one bloke call me about it, but so far nothing has happened.”   

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Dailly’s probable record training feat at The Meadows

February 13, 2016, 11:54 pm

≫ Next: Vince Curry dead heat a rarity in Australian greyhound racing

≪ Previous: Wheeler removes his dogs after Nicole Davis returns positive swab

ON Saturday night, February 13, at the Meadows, Victoria’s leading kennel, headed by Andrea Dailly, completely dominated proceedings, winning an incredible six of the 12 races.

The sequence began in the first race when Spring Bumblebee (box 5) defeated kennelmate Bopa Allen.

It was two for two when Dyna Irminus (box 7) took out the second race.

The treble came up in race three when Gawker Bale (box 1) scored, while kennelmate Allen Zahra was unplaced.

The kennel had no starters in race four, but made it four wins in four contested races in the fifth event when Dyna Juggler (box 1) won, while their other starter, Spring Grace, was unplaced.

Five out of five was hardly a surprise, with Dyna Double One maintaining his undefeated record over the middle distance, scoring in the main 600m event. Snakebite Bale, the Dailly’s other starter and Dyna Double One’s half-brother, ran third.

The kennel suffered its first defeat when Benta Bale could only finish second behind Rare Pearl in race seven.

In race eight, Lektra Utopia ran third behind the smart Tap Out Rose while Crackerjack Burn was unplaced.

In race nine, Dailly rugged up three starters and collected win number six for the night when Crackerjack Bob (box 1) scored while Tro Bradman was third and Dyna Krypto unplaced.

Race 10 saw Dyna Jonah and Helga Bale run for the Dailly kennel, but both were unplaced.

The kennel had no starters in race 11 but in race 12 they rugged up Tronnie Oldfield (second), Folio Bale and Gia (both unplaced).

So, in the final tally, Andrea Dailly sent out 20 starters in 10 races and came away with six wins, three seconds and three third placings.

While records are hard to come by, the performance by Andrea Dailly is almost certainly an Australian record.

Until the mid to late 1990s the rules of racing were such that a trainer could not have more than one starter in a race, unless they had managed to get a brace through to a major race final.

So the opportunity to have more than a single runner in a race is a phenomenon of the last decade and a half or so only.

The closest to come to this city-class effort I can recall is that of Graeme Bate in the Ladies Bracelet series at Wentworth Park in 2011. Bate prepared the quinella in the first heat of the Ladies Bracelet on April 30, with Wongawilli Wala defeating Thecla Bale and then snared the remaining three heats with Darya Bale, Shereen Bale and Tonneli Bale to give him four winners on the night from the only four races in which he had contenders.

On June 12 1971, the great Bill Fletcher trained a treble at Wentworth Park when Marcus Moss, Mustard Moss and Broken Bit all saluted, while his other charge, Suelinda, ran third.

That was only the fourth time a treble had been achieved at the Glebe circuit in its history. Only Joe Power, Les Brett and Hec Watt had ever trained three winners at the one 10-event program previously.

Len Taylor, the trainer of the great Macareena, made headlines in June 1953 when he prepared three winners at Harold Park: Macareena scored her 10th successive victory, winning the Harold Park Stake (500 yards); Twinkling Jewel also won over 500 yards; and Miss Oakey (who was later sold to interests in the United States) had her first start over 800 yards and scored by four lengths in a new track record time of 43.4.

Watch Dyna Double One (3) scoring the Dailly’s fifth win of the night.

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Vince Curry dead heat a rarity in Australian greyhound racing

February 22, 2016, 9:02 pm

≫ Next: Remember when: Fair Sentence won the 1989 Geelong Cup

≪ Previous: Dailly’s probable record training feat at The Meadows

THE amazing dead-heat between kennelmates Split Image (box 4) and Paua To Avoid (box 8) in the final of the Group 2 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden (520m) at Ipswich brings to mind the fact that dead-heats in major races are quite a rarity, even during the pre-photo-finish camera days of the sport.

Indeed, since the start of the group racing era in 1995, the Vince Curry is only the third time a race with group status at the time has ended in a dead-heat for first.

The first dead-heat in a Group race did not come until the eighth year of the Group calendar, in the 2003 Australian Cup. That race ended with the Graeme Bate-trained Blackjack Tom (box 3) sharing the winners dias with NSW contender Most Awesome (box 8), trained by Max Burdekin.

The second occasion was the 2007 West End Draught Distance Championship, run at Angle Park, when local hope Miss Columbia and NSW star Miss Grub could not be separated by the judge. John McMillan trained Miss Columbia, while Victorian conditioner Kel Greenough was in charge of the former NSW stayer. The West End Draught Distance Championship sadly no longer enjoys group status.

There have also been dead-heats in seven races which now have group status, but didn’t when the dead-heats took place, either because group racing didn’t exist (pre-1995) or the event had not yet been raised to group status.

The first of these was the 1942 top-grade final of the Launceston Cup, which was shared between All Dixie and Shirarch.

The second was the 1963 Vic Peters Memorial Classic final over 500 yards at Harold Park, which saw the Joe Power-prepared Seraphino (box 3) share first prize money of £1,100 ($2,200) with Bob Cann’s Test Pattern (box 8).

The 1977 Darwin Cup finished in a dead-heat between Quiet Hobo and track specialist Reenatak.

In 1984, the Richmond Derby photo-finish showed Bindall’s Hope (box 3) and Creamy Koko (box 8) splitting the trophy.

The 1992 Traralgon Cup saw Tough As Tears (box 1) share the winner’s spoils with the Carl Haas-trained Worth Backing (box 8).

In 1993 the invitation-only Topgun was introduced with great fanfare to the racing calendar. That inaugural running produced an incredible finish over 511 metres on a wet track at Sandown Park with the Kevin Mugavin-trained Golden Currency (box 4) dividing the race with the Carl Haas-trained Worth Backing (box 1).

Worth Backing is the only greyhound in Australian history to have dead-heated for first on two occasions in a major race.

The last of the seven current group races to have a dead-heat was the 1995 Canberra Cup which saw Victorian sprinter Sandy Honcho (box 6) dead-heat with local Scholar’s Mate (box 8).

Some other major races which have seen dead-heat for first results include the 1963 Lawnton Memorial Cup, run over 437 yards, which fell jointly to NSW sprinter Toeaway and Aqualoo’s Choice. In 1977, Rebel Attack and Hilda’s Girl dead-heated for first in the race, making it the only major event to have two dead-heat results in its history.

The 1972 Tamworth Gold Cup was shared between Topini Fire and Dashing Danny, the latter being only the second locally-trained winner of the event.

In 1973, the Maitland Skippa Cup (684m) saw Tomray Moss and Speedy Clogs share the first prize money while in 2013, the Capalaba Cup was divided between Are They Now (trained by Peter Ruetschi) and Veno (trained by John Adams).

So, the above covers dead-heats in just 15 major races across Australia. That represents a very small percentage when one considers just how many major races have been conducted over the last nine decades.

Note: Although I only have box draw positions for eight of the 15 races, it’s amazing to see box 8 features in no less than seven of he dead-heats and box 3 in four.

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Remember when: Fair Sentence won the 1989 Geelong Cup

October 26, 2017, 4:44 pm

≫ Next: Stewards: Three banned for life, Shillington, Mitchell penalised

≪ Previous: Vince Curry dead heat a rarity in Australian greyhound racing

Remember when

HE would be the veteran of 107 starts at a time when it was unusual for top-flight greyhounds to compete so often, but Fair Sentence (Bright Judge x Alsvider Apr ’87) first came to real prominence when he annexed the 1989 Geelong Cup straight after taking out the Anniversary Trophy at Olympic Park.

A black dog, Fair Sentence would have a special affinity with the Geelong track during a career which began in January 1989 and ended 34 months later, in October 1991.

Trained by Graeme Bate, Fair Sentence commenced his career with a fifth over 424m at Warragul on January 31, 1989, but a week later at the same course he drew well in box one and broke his maiden status with an eight lengths success.

His next 11 starts were hardly inspiring as Fair Sentence managed to win over 513m at Traralgon and first-up by seven lengths over 457m at Geelong but was unplaced in seven of the other nine races on tracks such as Warragul, Sandown Park, Olympic Park and even Tweed Heads where he went to compete in the Galaxy.

Yet on his return Fair Sentence hit his straps and would not be unplaced for his next 23 consecutive races. Second placings at Geelong and Sandown were followed by wins at Olympic Park and Cranbourne and then four more placings at Cranbourne, Olympic Park and Shepparton.

After winning by four lengths first-up over 450m at Ballarat on August 2, Bate stepped Fair Sentence up in class and set him for the prestigious Anniversary Trophy at Olympic Park five days later.

In his heat, Fair Sentence was beaten a half head by the smart Benito’s Boy but after drawing perfectly in box one for the August 14 final, Fair Sentence was sent out favourite and simply romped away from his rivals to score by 12 lengths.

Maintaining his form, Fair Sentence won a graded race at Geelong by eight and a half lengths on August 25 and then breezed into the Geelong Cup final by winning his heat by five lengths from Barbariot in a best of the night 26.18.
Drawn box seven in the Geelong Cup final on September 8, Fair Sentence made no mistake and went to the line almost three lengths clear of Elusive Action in 26.24.

Contesting the heats of the National Sprint Championship Victoria, Fair Sentence was only third in his heat but drew well in box two for the final and was made favourite, but could only run second behind 33/1 ($34) outsider Davey.
Three more placings followed, including a well-beaten second behind the sensational Spread Eagled in the final of the Olympic Park Sprint Championship on October 9 before Fair Sentence again found the line as a winner, at his much-loved Geelong.

After running second in a heat of the 440m Shepparton Cup, Fair Sentence won a consolation trophy at that track on final night and then scored by seven lengths out of box one at Cranbourne.

He could finish only fourth at his next outing, at Geelong, but then bounced back with four straight wins. The first of these was by seven lengths at Horsham and Bate then entered him for the Melbourne Cup series where Fair Sentence won his heat by five and a half lengths in a best of the night 30.34 and returned to take the Melbourne Cup final by three lengths from The Earbrander on November 30 in a best of the night 30.19, leading all the way from box one.

Graeme Bate considered Fair Sentence might make a decent stayer and the black dog passed his first test with a four and a half lengths victory over 600m at Olympic Park on December 11.

After a fourth in the Anniversary Trophy (best 8) at Ballarat, Fair Sentence closed out 1989 with a win in top grade over 511m at Sandown Park. This took his racing record to 18 wins, 11 seconds and four thirds from just 41 starts and his consistency was such that he was named 1989 Victorian Greyhound of the Year.

Fair Sentence began 1990 with a win at Sandown and a win in a heat of the Cranbourne Cup on January 13 before finishing seventh behind Spread Eagled in the final.

Two more unplaced runs followed before Bate decided to test Fair Sentence as a stayer. Contesting a 732m handicap at Olympic Park on February 19, Fair Sentence looked the goods as he cruised away to score by five lengths.

Set for the National Distance Championship, Fair Sentence won his Victorian State Final heat on March 13 at Olympic Park by just half a head and then tailed the field behind Clean Machine in the final. It was his last attempt at a distance career.

His next 10 starts resulted in just two victories (one being the Hoteliers Plate at Horsham) and four placings as well as a sixth in the Cranbourne Easter Cup final and a fourth behind Spread Eagled in the Anniversary Trophy at Olympic Park.

At his next 15 outings Fair Sentence recorded five wins, at Ballarat, Geelong, Sandown and Shepparton and seven placings, including a second in a Shepparton Cup heat (behind The Earbrander) and second behind Hard Rain in a Shepparton Cup Consolation.

Fair Sentence ended 1990 with a single victory at Geelong and the black dog completed that 12-month period having only won 11 of his 34 starts (11 placings), a far cry from his glory days of 1989.

Fair Sentence would not win again until March 30 when he took out a heat of the Horsham Easter Cup before running sixth behind Rare Drop in the final just two days later.

As Fair Sentence rolled on towards the end of his long career he scored victories in top grade events at Ballarat (seven), Bendigo (twice) and Geelong (twice) before he ran his last race on October 16, 1991, finishing third over 450m at Ballarat.

Fair Sentence finished his career having started 107 times and notching 41 wins, 21 seconds and 11 thirds, earning $86,580 in prize money. As all good greyhounds do, Fair Sentence possessed an admirable record out of box one, winning six of 10 starts and running second in the other four. He also won seven of nine starts from box eight (one second).

At Geelong he had raced 16 times over 457m for 10 wins, one second and two thirds while at Ballarat he registered nine wins, five seconds and three thirds from 20 starts over 450m. His city record was only average with Fair Sentence only scoring 10 wins at either Olympic Park or Sandown Park from 39 starts (12 placings).

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Stewards: Three banned for life, Shillington, Mitchell penalised

November 15, 2017, 10:24 pm

≫ Next: Today’s greyhound racing news back in time

≪ Previous: Remember when: Fair Sentence won the 1989 Geelong Cup

Stewards' wrap

THOMAS Mitchell and Blake Shillington had their Victorian Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) inquiries finalised this week after they were charged with a string of offences stemming from a kennel inspection at their property at Lara late last year.

Many of the charges were overlapping, however both men faced separate inquiries charged with the following.

Thomas Mitchell:

Charge 1 – GAR 101(2)(a) on December 14, 2016, a kennel inspection was held at the property where Beverley Bate, the wife of disgraced former trainer Graeme Bate was present. Mrs. Bate is an unlicensed person and she admitted to helping to walk and feed the racing greyhounds. Under the rules of racing an unlicensed person is not permitted to train a greyhound pursuant to the control of the trainer.

Charge 2 – GAR 86(ah) for associating with a disqualified person for the purposes of greyhound racing in that Shillington’s tax return indicated his employer to be BD Bate and GJ Bate and that his main business was listed as ‘dog training – for racing’. It was also indicated that Mitchell would attend the home address of Graeme Bate to have the greyhound trailers he used repaired as they belonged to Graeme Bate.

Charge 3 – GAR 84(2) in that on December 14, 2016, stewards located a quantity of a substance labelled Merolin was located. Analysis of the substance showed it contained the prohibited substance Ethanolamine and Oleic Acid. There was no evidence that this substance was prescribed, dispensed of or obtained in compliance with the relevant State of Commonwealth legislation.

Charge 4 – GAR 84(4)(b) in that on December 14, 2016, stewards located the permanently banned prohibited substance Amoxycillan – an antibiotic – at the property. There was no evidence that this substance was prescribed, dispensed of or obtained in compliance with the relevant State of Commonwealth legislation.

Charge 5 – GAR 84(2) in that on December 14, 2016, stewards located a quantity of the substance Duplocillin at the property. Analysis of the substance showed the contents to include the prohibited substance Procaine Penicillin. There was no evidence that this substance was prescribed, dispensed of or obtained in compliance with the relevant State of Commonwealth legislation.

Charge 6 – GAR 86(e) in that on February 15, 2017, Mitchell was directed by a member of the controlling body to produce various documents including mobile phone, banking and financial records, veterinarian payment records, vehicle expense receipts, food and supplement receipts and copies of rental/lease agreement. Mitchell failed to produce the veterinarian payment records.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charges, on application to the RADB the stewards withdrew charge 6.

The RADB imposed a suspension for charge 1 backdated to December 16, 2016, and expiring on November 13, 2017. Concurrent penalties on charges 2,3,4 and 5 were also imposed.

Blake Shillington:

Charge 1 – GAR 101 (2)(a) on December 14, 2016, a kennel inspection was held at the property where Beverley Bate, the wife of disgraced former trainer Graeme Bate was present. Mrs. Bate is an unlicensed person and she admitted to helping to walk and feed the racing greyhounds. Under the rules of racing an unlicensed person is not permitted to train a greyhound pursuant to the control of the trainer.

Charge 2 – GAR 86(ah) in that Shillington admitted to attending Graeme Bate’s property to seek advice on the training of greyhounds.

Charge 4 – GAR 84(2) in that on December 14, 2016, stewards found a quantity of the substance Restore in a vehicle Shillington owned on the property. The substance was analysed and found to contain the prohibited substance Phenol. There was no evidence that this substance was prescribed, dispensed of or obtained in compliance with the relevant State of Commonwealth legislation.

Charge 5 – GAR 84(4)(b) in that on December 14, 2016, stewards located the permanently banned prohibited substance Amoxycillan – an antibiotic – at the property. There was no evidence that this substance was prescribed, dispensed of or obtained in compliance with the relevant State of Commonwealth legislation.

Charge 6 – GAR 84(2) in that on December 14, 2016, stewards located a quantity of the substance Duplocillin at the property. Analysis of the substance showed the contents to include the prohibited substance Procaine Penicillin. There was no evidence that this substance was prescribed, dispensed of or obtained in compliance with the relevant State of Commonwealth legislation.

Charge 7 – GAR 86(e) in that on February 15, 2017 he was directed by a member of the controlling body to produce various documents including mobile phone records, banking and financial records, veterinarian payment records, vehicle expense records, food and supplement receipts and copies of rental/lease agreement. Shillington failed to produce these documents by the required time.

Charge 8 – GAR 86(e) in that on April 5, 2017, the Chief Steward directed Shillington to attend an inquiry and to produce various documents including mobile phone records, banking and financial records, veterinarian payment records, vehicle expense records, food and supplement receipts and copies of rental/lease agreement. Shillington failed to attend the inquiry and produce the documents.

Shillington pleaded guilty to the charges and on application to the RADB the stewards withdrew charge 8.

Shillington was disqualified for 18 months on charge 7, backdated to December 16, 2016, when he was originally suspended. On charge 1, a nine-month disqualification was imposed, charge 2 a 12 month ban, and on charges 3, 4, 5 and 6 the RADB imposed concurrent penalties of three months disqualification. The charges are to be served concurrently with the penalty from charge 7.

Three Victorians banned for life

THREE Victorian greyhound trainers have been fined and issued life bans after being found guilty of animal welfare rule breaches.

The first was Coolaroo trainer Benny Briffa who faced the RADB charged with breaching GAR 106(1)(d) and GAR 106(2).

Briffa was the trainer of the bitch called Soul Dancer, owned by Elizabeth Breukink and Theo Dahl. After retiring, the bitch was mated and Briffa whelped seven pups on March 24, 2017.

On April 30, the owners attended the property to see the pups at five weeks, noting they appeared to be normal. On May 14, Dr. Michael Bell attended the property to vaccinate them and noted that one pup appeared to be lame in the hindquarters. The pup was diagnosed with ‘Osteo Dystrophia Fibrosa’ and Briffa was advised to increase the calcium intake for the pups.

On May 26, Theo Dahl contacted Briffa to ask about the pups who informed him they could not walk and were dragging themselves around as they could not use their back legs. Dahl and Breukink decided to take the pups from Briffa who agreed and said ‘the screaming of the pups in the middle of the night was too much for him’.

The pups were collected by Dahl and his brother Leo on May 28. They were examined by Dr Watkins who observed only one pup had mobility and the rest were lame. Five of the lame pups had non-healing fractures to leg bones and some had multiple fractures. They were reluctant to walk or move, with one pup unable to stand with fractures in both femurs and areas of ulceration on the medial side of the hind limbs.

Five of the pups were euthanised. One of the remaining pups, a female, required surgery and on going treatment. Only one pup, a male, was unaffected.

Briffa was charged by Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) stewards under GAR 106(1)(d) for failing to provide veterinary attention when necessary. He was also charged with GAR 106(2) for failing to exercise reasonable care to prevent the pups being subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering.

Under GA 106(1)(d) Briffa was fined $2000 and under GAR 106(2) he was disqualified for life.

Phillips and Fulton banned

DEVON Meadows based Nikki Phillips and Mark Fulton have both been fined heavily and issued with life bans after being found guilty of 15 animal welfare charges under GAR 106.

On May 14, 2016, Fulton, who operated out of kennels with Phillips, had five greyhounds housed at their property. On that day, GRV officials conducted a kennel inspection and found the greyhounds in an emaciated state. GRV arranged the assistance of RSPCA inspectors, with veterinarian Dr. Belousoff conducting an assessment on the greyhounds.

The first greyhound was a bitch named Acacia Shiraz which was emaciated, had dental issues and had fly bitten ears. Fulton and Phillips were charged with three rule breaches relating to this greyhound – GAR 106(1)(a) for failing to provide sufficient food, GAR 106(1)(d) for failing to provide veterinary attention when necessary and GAR 106(2) for failing to provide reasonable care to prevent the greyhound from being subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering.
Fulton and Phillips failed to attend the hearing. They were found guilty on the three charges and fined $2,000 and $3,000 respectively for the first two charges and disqualified for life on the third.

The second greyhound assessed by Dr. Belousoff was a black dog named Arnold Bibby. He was worse off than the first greyhound, severely emaciated with a rough and patchy coast, fly struck ears and a build up of faeces in the back molar region. The faeces in his mouth suggested he had consumed it out of hunger. Arnold Bibby was anaemic and suffering from Giardia, an infection of the bowel. He had fly bitten ears and pressure sores. Again the duo were charged with breaching GAR 106(1)(a), GAR 106(1)(d) and GAR 106(2) and were fined identically to the first charge and given another life ban.

The third greyhound assessed was an unnamed black bitch. She was found to be emaciated. She had a patchy coat with missing fur, long nails, dental issues and fly struck ears. She was also anaemic and suffering from Clostridium which causes diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. Additionally, the top of her tail was split and bleeding, her housing was filthy and it was determined if she had not of been removed from the property her suffering would have led to her death.

More charges were laid under GAR 106(1)(a) for which a $2,000 fine was imposed, a $3,000 fine for the breach of GAR 106(1)(d) and a life ban for GAR 106(2).

The fourth and fifth greyhounds were black bitches which were emaciated, had a build up of tartar on their teeth, had fly struck ears, rough coats and bleeding tails. Both were suffering starvation, one had an open wound on her rear hock. Two more charges each under GAR 106(1)(a), GAR 106(1)(d) and GAR 106 (2) were laid.

All up, Fulton and Phillips were fined $25,000 and banned for life.

Mitchell suspended

NORTH Shore trainer Leigh Mitchell has been suspended by the RADB after one of his greyhounds tested positive for a banned substance.

Mitchell was charged with a breach of the prohibited substances rule GAR 83(2)(3) after his greyhound Bounce Pass returned a pre-race urine sample at Warragul which showed the presence of theobromine, a metabolite of caffeine.

Mitchell submitted the positive could have been a result of kennel security at country tracks such as Warragul, he also mentioned a person who has a grudge against him and suggested the greyhound could have licked grass that Coke had spilled on.

He could not provide proof to support any of these theories, however made note that in eight years of training this was his first positive swab.

The RADB decided to impose a two-month suspension, effective immediately, while Bounce Pass was also disqualified from the race in question.

Paikos fined and disqualified

JOHN Paikos was the subject of a Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) Greyhound Stewards inquiry into an alleged altercation which occurred in the trainer’s carpark at Mandurah on October 19, 2017.

Paikos was charged with two rule breaches under GAR 86(o).

The first was that, during a recorded interview in the stewards’ office at Mandurah on October 19, Paikos swore which in the opinion of stewards constitutes misconduct.

The second charge was that on October 19, Paikos punched trainer Tim Mullany in the face, which also constitutes misconduct.

Paikos pleaded guilty to both charges. For the first, he was fined $500, while he was banned for six months for the second charge.

Two NSW trainers fined

Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) stewards have fined trainer Anne Hector after one of her greyhounds tested positive to a banned substance.

Hector entered an early guilty plea to a breach of GAR 83(2) after her greyhound Elusive Ava returned a positive urine sample to arsenic when competing at Richmond on August 30, 2017.

Hector was fined $625 and the greyhound was disqualified from the race in question.

GRNSW also handed down a $750 fine to Leonie Brown who also entered an early guilty plea to a breach of the prohibited substances rule.

Brown’s greyhound In Like Flint returned a positive urine sample to arsenic when competing at Nowra on August 26, 2017.

Pryce disqualified

Mitchell Pryce has been disqualified by GRNSW stewards after one of his greyhounds tested positive to cobalt.

Despicable Scott returned the sample which was taken prior to competing at Wentworth park on July 29, 2017, with the swab showing the presence of cobalt above the allowed threshold.

Pryce entered a guilty plea and was suspended for 10 weeks, while the greyhound was also disqualified from the race in question under GAR 83(4).

↧

Today’s greyhound racing news back in time

July 21, 2018, 8:13 pm

≫ Next: Today in greyhound racing time: Graeme Bate dominates 2012

≪ Previous: Stewards: Three banned for life, Shillington, Mitchell penalised

Fernando Bale

Australian Racing Greyhound delves back in to the archives to look back at this day in greyhound history.

2016

Country greyhound trainer Vicki Prest says a GRNSW decision to suspend all non-TAB greyhound racing has hit trainers hard:
PREST SAYS NON-TAB GREYHOUND BAN IS “CUTTING OUR THROATS”

2015

Secret Spell ended a 16 race career winning streak for Fernando Bale by beating him in a semi final of the 2015 maturity Classic:
SECRET SPELL SET TO WEAVE HER MAGIC IN GROUP 1 MATURITY CLASSIC
Queensland grader Darren Barbour was disqualified for 12 months for manipulating the box draw of a greyhound race where a greyhound he had bet on subsequently won the race:
STEWARDS WRAP: LAST WEEK’S NEWS IN ONE HIT

2014

Bruce Teague says that the greyhound industry must learn to tell its story or risk the public inventing their own perceptions:
LESSONS FROM THE FARM
Trainer Johm Frewin was fined $150 for failing to produce his greyhound to start in a Warrnambool race:
JOHN FREWIN FINED $150 FOR NON-ARRIVAL

2013

Bruce Teague takes a look at a UK survey of 6,000 British greyhound owners where over one third said trainers needed to communicate better with owners:
BRITISH OWNERS TELL IT LIKE IT IS
Now disgraced greyhound trainer Graeme Bate produced Schroder Bale to beat Black Magic Opal and qualify for the 2013 Maturity Classic Final:
SCHRODER BALE STUNS IN MATURITY CLASSIC SEMI
Rod Ashworth’s Early Return won the GOTBA Cup at Longwood Coursing Club:
GOTBA COURSING GOES TO LONGWOOD
NSW greyhound Where’s Keroma post a landmark 42.97 Meadows win to qualify for the G2 2013 AWM Distance Championship final with favourite Irma Bale out of the placings:
FAVOURITES TUMBLE IN AWM DISTANCE HEATS

2011

Rainfall in Sydney causes concern from owners and trainers with the track surface at Wentworth Park:
WENTWORTH PARK GREYHOUND RACE MEETINGS TO GO AHEAD

2009

IMPROVED VELOCETTE AIMS FOR BACK TO BACK GROUP WINS

GRNSW Chairman Professor Percy Allan AM claims greyhound racing had subsidised its thoroughbred counterparts in NSW to the tune of $6.25 million over the past 12 months, effectively making the dogs the largest sponsor of horse racing in the state:
GRNSW CLAIM GREYHOUNDS ARE HORSE RACING’S BIGGEST SPONSOR
GRSA shut the door on the Murray Bridge Greyhound Club’s hopes for a straight track for the area:
GRSA CLOSE THE DOOR ON MURRAY BRIDGE STRAIGHT TRACK

↧

Today in greyhound racing time: Graeme Bate dominates 2012

July 23, 2018, 7:20 pm

≫ Next: Greyhound racing in time: Graeme Bate at the peak of his game in 2011

≪ Previous: Today’s greyhound racing news back in time

2016

The NSW greyhound industry was shocked to find a trainer had been found to have used a cattle prod on a greyhound in the starting boxes and called on the person to be named and shamed. The culprit was later found to be Robert Newstead who was referred to police and received a 15 month disqualification from GRNSW.

2014

Gun McBain wins the SA Champion Puppy final at Angle Park in 30.03 for trainer Todd Kelly.
The sister of champion Miata, Starlight Delly proves the her worth as a brood bitch with her progeny filling all the placings of the Winter Maiden Classic final at Cannington.

2013

GRSA begin to unveil the roadmap of $1.5M of infrastructure upgrades that flow on from the 2012 South Australian greyhound racing strategic plan.

GRSA RELEASE DETAILS OF SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES

2012

Undefeated Barcia Bale was all the rage to win the G1 Maturity Classic final for now disgraced greyhound trainer Graeme Bate
40 of Queensland’s best greyhounds nominate for the state natonal sprint and distance heats including Cakes And Pies and Glen Gallon
Duncan Stearn compares Barcia Bale to one of the greats of Victorian greyhound racing in Satan’s Legend.
The NSW Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) program is officially recognised by the NSW government as the states first greyhound re-training program
GRSA receive 48 nominations for the state national sprint and distance heats with the national final to be held in Tasmania.
NSW greyhound trainer Domenico Lauricello receives a four month band for a positive to NSAID Carprofen from an Appin maiden race.
Victorian nominations close for the state national sprint and distance heats with 49 dogs in calculations including David Bale, Don’t Knocka Him and Fabregas.
Irma Bale continues the extraordinary run of top class greyhounds for Graeme Bate and Paul Wheeler starting hot favourite for the AWM Distance Championship at The Meadows

2010

Hopes and dreams go on the line at The Gardens with the G3 Laurie Healion Memorial maiden heats with Winsome Gun and Winsome Shiraz engaged.

FUTURE STARS FIRE UP AT THE GARDENS

2009

New Zealand greyhound racing struggles announcing an across the board five percent reduction in prize money for the coming racing season.
Iron dog Trew Millions finally wins his group race taking home the G1 Winter Carnival Cup from Albion Park
Australian Racing Greyhound pokes a bit of fun at the growing trend of steward’s inquiries to refer only to “incidents” without detailing the actual issues.
It was back in 2009 when the current trend of bookmakers taking naming rights at tracks was started by Tabcorp in harness racing. ARG wondered if it might have been the answer for the embattled Gardens greyhounds and the NSW NCA. Well as it turned out the NCA didn’t survive and its not Tabcorp’s name on the track, it’s Ladbrokes.

↧

Greyhound racing in time: Graeme Bate at the peak of his game in 2011

July 31, 2018, 8:56 pm

≫ Next: From the archives: This day 25th September in greyhound news

≪ Previous: Today in greyhound racing time: Graeme Bate dominates 2012

2017

Trainer Tony Brett says there’s plenty ready to take his place as Fast Times is withdrawn from the Queensland National Sprint Championship heats.

FAST TIMES OUT OF NATIONALS: BRETT STILL HAS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

2016

Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) appoints Shane Gillard as its first General Manager of Integrity.
Ray Drew and family celebrate the Group 1 Maturity Classic win of Kilty Express.
Duncan Stearn takes issue with constantly repeated “fake news” regarding greyhound racing around the world and particularly in reference to USA greyhound raacing.

2014

Rob Sheeley previews the $25,000 to the winner Group 3 Darwin Cup final field.
Dimity Maher previews the Group 3 Laurie Healion Memorial final from The Gardens.

2013

Bruce Teague puts the basket case which is Queensland Racing firmyl in his sights.
Can Ritza Hattie go though the Group 3 Laurie Healion Memorial series undefeated.
Robin Wilson discusses the prospects of quality Tasmanian broodbitch It’s A She providing both the Tasmanian National Sprint and Distance Championship representatives.

2011

Now disgraced Victorian greyhound trainer Graeme Bate was at the peak of his powers when training the quinella of the Group 1 Maturity Classic with Shereen Bale beating Stefan Bale.
The Rob Redenbach trained Shimaguni wins the Group 3 AWM Distance Championship The Meadows.

2009

Queen Lauryn overcomes a defeat in the heats to win the Group 3 Darwin Cup final in track record time.
Half sisters Green Lee and Surin’ Sal quinella the feature sprint final at Casino greyhounds.
Forty seven nominations have been received for the Queensland National Sprint and Distance Championship heats at Albion Park.
GRNSW release the list of 38 greyhounds to contest the NSW National Sprint Championship heats, while 16 dogs will fight it out in the NSW National Distance Championship heats.
Angle Park will host 58 dogs to contest the South Australian National Sprint and Distance Championship heats.

2008

Sandown and The Meadows will share the Victorian National Sprint and Distance Championship heats with dogs the calibre of One Tree Hill, Lilley Criminal and Sky Hazzard engaged.
In the years before the AGRA controlled the group racing calendar, Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club released the dates for its group races for the coming racing year.
GRSA announces the 45 greyhounds set to contest the SA National Sprint and Distance Championship heats at Angle Park.
Stayer Sky Hazzard wins his second consecutive AWM Distance Championship final at The Meadows for trainer Don Hazzard.
Greyhounds Queensland announce that Albion Park greyhounds will commence to race additional meetings on a Tuesday night.

↧

From the archives: This day 25th September in greyhound news

September 24, 2019, 2:12 pm

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≪ Previous: Greyhound racing in time: Graeme Bate at the peak of his game in 2011

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From the archives: This day 1st August in greyhound racing

July 31, 2020, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Double agent spills beans on Animals Australia greyhound sting

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This day 1st August in greyhound racing news

From the extensive Australian Racing Greyhound news archives we present the all the action in greyhound racing history. Delve in and enjoy our walk back in time.

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Greyhound racing in time: Graeme Bate at the peak of his game in 2011

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Fast Times out of Nationals: Brett still has strength in numbers

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Drew family celebrate milestone with Kilty Express’ Maturity win

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Inventing American greyhound racing history

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Double agent spills beans on Animals Australia greyhound sting

December 17, 2016, 10:39 pm

≫ Next: From the archives: This day 25th September in greyhound news

≪ Previous: From the archives: This day 1st August in greyhound racing

A ROGUE Animals Australia operative, who is a trainer in Victoria, has shed light on the circumstances surrounding the Lara raids last week.

At a property just outside of Geelong, owned by a member of controversial former trainer Graeme Bate’s family, Blake Shillington and Thomas Mitchell felt the full force of an alleged Animals Australia’s covert surveillance operation.

Charlie Wilson, who has enjoyed moderate success as a trainer, said he has been working hand-in-hand with with the head of Animals Australia Lyn White.

Wilson claims the alleged Animals Australia sting, was carried out at trainers of Melbourne Cup dogs, in a bid to create maximum exposure, by implicating a leading trainer with vision obtained on T185 spy cameras. At the Shillington-Mitchell property alone he said there was 14 cameras installed with regular battery changes happening at around midnight each night.

“It was a very sophisticated operation and we were there to chase drug cheats — drug cheats who have never been targeted,” he said.

“I was never paid, but I was asked to go in and capture world-first footage of greyhounds being doped.”

Wilson claims he joined forces with Animals Australia after becoming concerned about drugs in greyhound racing. He says the practice is rife and Animals Australia has proof. He said “close to 40” properties in Victoria were targeted in the sting with several of the trainers, who Australian Racing Greyhound has chosen not to name, having won group races on the biggest stage.

The Lara raid is just the tip of the iceberg with Wilson revealing Animals Australia planned to team up with the ABC to release an expose on drugs in greyhound racing in early 2017. It has the potential to reverberate through the sport nationally, and would again throw doubt on whether NSW Premier Mike Baird will repeal legislation banning the sport in his state.

An Animals Australia spokesperson confirmed they were the source which tipped off Greyhound Racing Victoria about the alleged illegal activities at the Lara property.

The spokesperson said it was disappointing Wilson had decided to turn whistleblower, after openly speaking to them about his own misdemeanours in greyhound racing. The spokesperson failed to give confirmation about how they obtained vision from Shillington and Mitchell’s property which was supplied to GRV.

“Charlie Wilson indicated a willingness to be interviewed by the media and speak to his own drugging of greyhounds that was never detected, as well as to the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in greyhound racing,” they said.

“Animals Australia forwarded evidence relating to alleged drugging offences at a Lara property to Greyhound Racing Victoria for investigation, with appropriate information and vision to support their investigation. It is disappointing therefore to witness the person who was actively encouraging Animals Australia to investigate drugging in the greyhound industry, now engaging in a public vendetta.”

Australian Racing Greyhound has seen correspondence between Wilson and someone using the alias Blue Wren, with Wilson claiming it is White. He alleges White co-ordinated the plan to bring down greyhound racing in the state and confirmed a leading owner was one of the main figures in the cross hairs of Animals Australia.

“She knew that I was a trainer. She also knew that I had dogs in the industry, she also knew that I was still in the industry,” he said.

“She was even willing to pay for me at one stage to continue to train and to maintain my dogs so I could obtain covert footage of the industry for her.

“Lyn White’s main goal was to shut greyhound racing down forever.”

GRV integrity boss Shane Gillard refused to confirm an alleged meeting investigator Charlie Bezzina had with Wilson on Friday, but did say there was an ongoing investigation into the events surrounding the Lara raid. He said the anonymous hotline, set up to combat illegal behaviour in the sport, had been running hot since the news broke.

“We have a lot of information passed onto us all the time,” he said.

“The information we received about the Lara raid was given to us anonymously and then we acted on it.”

Wilson admitted he faced legal problems by revealing his own involvement with Animals Australia, but said he felt obliged to come forward in an attempt to help the battle-scarred industry survive and move forward. Wilson openly admits to trespassing on behalf of Animals Australia with several Victorian trainers confirming they have had run-ins with operatives, or found equipment relating to surveillance on their properties. One trainer, who did not want to be named, said they are exploring legal avenues.

“We have enough information to shut Animals Australia down – they act corruptly,” Wilson said.

“I have that many emails… that implicate Lyn White as the orchestrator – she is the chief Indian and we refer to her and she would give the green light to go to these properties and do things.”

Wilson has a chequered history in greyhound racing with his initial beef with the industry stemming from two dogs he bought off a NSW trainer, which failed to show the same ability under his guidance, before one eventually died and the other retired. He claims the dogs must have been doped before they arrived at his kennel.

“Information provided to Animals Australia by Charlie Wilson alleged the wide-spread use of performance enhancing drugs in the greyhound racing industry, most of which remains undetected by regulators,” The Animals Australia spokesperson said.

“The use of such drugs, not only has significant animal welfare impacts, but would result in extensive race fixing.

“[Wilson] used performance enhancing EPO consistently in the greyhounds he trained. He actively encouraged Animals Australia to investigate this matter stating he had become disenchanted with the industry over a dispute with a [fellow trainer] over dogs he had bought from him, one of which had died.

“We look forward to working constructively with GRV to clean up the industry.”

Australian Racing Greyhound can confirm a top trainer recovered surveillance equipment from their property on Sunday, with GRV integrity officers and police expected to be informed imminently.

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From the archives: This day 25th September in greyhound news

September 24, 2020, 2:12 pm

≫ Next: Lara raids still remain a mystery

≪ Previous: Double agent spills beans on Animals Australia greyhound sting

25th September in greyhound racing news history

From the extensive Australian Racing Greyhound news archives we present the all the action in greyhound racing history. Delve in and enjoy our walk back in time.

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Queensland Greyhound Racing News

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Lara raids still remain a mystery

December 15, 2016, 12:24 am

≫ Next: Double agent spills beans on Animals Australia greyhound sting

≪ Previous: From the archives: This day 25th September in greyhound news

CONFUSION continues to surround the circumstances which saw a greyhound racing property at Lara raided on Wednesday afternoon.

A Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) media release confirmed the GRV Investigations Unit and welfare officers attended an unidentified property following allegations of illegal activity.

Speculations began to arise that the property may have been that of Thomas Mitchell and Blake Shillington, both of whom had their greyhounds withdrawn as late scratchings from the Cranbourne meeting on Wednesday night.

News sources reported that the property near Geelong was connected to former leading trainer Graeme Bate who is currently serving a lengthy disqualification period. But he has since come out and said he has nothing to do with the property, which is owned by his wife.

Leading owner-breeder Paul Wheeler, who has greyhounds with both Thomas Mitchell and Blake Shillington, said he was not aware of Bate having any involvement in the situation.

Wheeler said he was unable to comment on the specifics of the situation, with GRV yet to notify him for a reason why eight of his dogs were scratched from the Cranbourne meeting.

“I don’t know what’s happened,” he said.

“I will get feedback from them (Mitchell and Shillington) as it becomes more public, but at this stage I don’t even know what the raid was about.

“Apparently eight or 10 people raided the property all at once, I don’t know what they found, if they found anything or if they have breached any rules – I have got no idea.

“It is (concerning).”

Bate has also fired back at allegations he is involved in the fiasco, claiming his wife owns the property and he has nothing to do with it.

“That’s got nothing to do with me at all,” Bate said.

“I’ve been out of the game for three years, it expires in January. I’m a 70-year-old I don’t have anything to do with the dogs.

“I’m sick to death every time there is a problem they blame it on me.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, GRV said the raids were acting upon information received from an external source.

“Today’s raid is the culmination of many months of covert operations,” GRV CEO Alan Clayton said.

“It is a significant day as it demonstrates a much more sophisticated investigations capability within GRV and a greater preparedness for the industry to trust the regulator and provide information about potentially serious matters.

“This is all about the regulator regulating. As we know our industry is made up of many mums and dads who do the right thing.

“Our actions today will serve as further warning to those who do the wrong thing that we will find you and we will take appropriate action against any illegal activities and serious breaches of rules and regulations.”

↧

Double agent spills beans on Animals Australia greyhound sting

December 17, 2016, 10:39 pm

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≪ Previous: Lara raids still remain a mystery