Selwyn_Times: December 06, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday December 6 2023
22
RACING
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Charges dropped
after 17-month
harness racing
investigation
A MAJOR undercover police
investigation into alleged race
fixing and drug offences in the
harness racing industry appears
to have ended with the final
charges being dropped.
Operation Inca was a
17-month investigation involving
phone taps, bugged cars and
hotel rooms, and police officers
following harness racing drivers
to race meetings, the bulk of the
inquiry focused on the Canterbury
harness racing scene.
It became public when 11 racing
industry participants were
arrested in September 2018, most
charged with involvement in fixing
the outcome of races.
It can now be revealed Judge
Michael Crosbie ruled in the
district court on November 10
the last two charges should be
stayed, effectively dropped. No
race fixing or corruption has
been proven, the New Zealand
Herald has reported.
Other similar or related
charges were also dropped last
year after lengthy delays.
Most of the 11 people charged
have interim name suppression
and are applying for that to
become permanent.
Some of harness racing’s most
successful horse people were
among those arrested, while
many others were questioned
by police – but none have been
found guilty of race fixing or any
form of corruption involving
racing.
There were admissions of recreational
drug use after evidence
of that was also scooped up in
the Operation Inca net but that
resulted in guilty pleas and, being
of a minor nature, diversion
was granted.
Harness Racing New Zealand
bosses are awaiting Judge Crosbie’s
written findings, scheduled
for February.
“HRNZ is still waiting for official
confirmation that Operation
Inca has come to an end and that
charges have been dropped. We
are currently seeking that information
and confirmation,” says
HRNZ chief operating officer
Mauro Barsi.
“This has been a challenging
time for the industry and once
we know more, we may well look
to see how these events unfolded
and what next steps are needed
to support our participants and
our integrity.”
Police yesterday declined to
comment until February citing
suppression orders in place.
James Rapley KC, who acted
for three of those charged said
while the cases are now over, the
damage to his clients and the
others charged remains.
“There were accusations of
corruption and race fixing and
the arrests were very public, but
after five years it has come to
nothing,” Rapley
said.
“This investigation
and the
hearings have
caused divorce,
depression and
have had real
James
Rapley
human consequences.”
One of the
accused has spent more than
$400,000 on legal bills. Rapley
said his clients will be seeking
costs but a “woefully outdated
act dating back to 1967” makes
it near impossible for defendants
cleared of any wrongdoing to get
adequate compensation.
Selwyn Times understands a
large part of at least one defendant’s
legal bill was fighting to
stop the Racing Integrity Board
gaining access to the police
evidence, which may have led to
prosecutions under the rules of
racing, for which the penalties
including lengthy bans can be
severe.
Judge Raoul Neave made a
final order several months ago
denying the RIB access to the
police file.
The New Zealand Herald
reported questions will be asked
as to how the investigation got
so big when, in one example of
alleged match fixing, the race
in question involved a bet of a
mere $200 by one of the winning
horse’s owners for a $280 profit.
Horse race or match fixing
is an unusual charge in New
Zealand because the prosecution
must prove that an act was done
with intent to influence a betting
outcome by manipulating the
race result, and in doing so, the
accused obtained an advantage
or caused loss to another.
Franco Indie’s sire continues to deliver
• By Jonny Turner
ALABAR’S GIFT that keeps
giving delivered again when
Franco Indie took out the
Akaroa Cup at Motukarara on
Saturday.
The All Stars pacer justified
his hot favouritism when adding
his first victory on grass to his
impressive résumé.
Franco Indie has breeding
giants Alabar and Nevele R Stud
among its big group of owners.
The two studs stand the pacer’s
sire Always B Miki, and they
backed the stallion by purchasing
Franco Indie as a yearling.
A standout two and threeyear-old,
the pacer now looks
ready to step back into the open
class big leagues after producing
back-to-back wins.
“He is a lovely horse; it is good
to have him back,” Alabar NZ
general manager Graeme Henley
said.
“Obviously, he was a pretty
special horse as a two-year-old
and then he was a favourite for
some of the biggest races as a
three-year-old.
“He has had a few problems, to
the point that at one stage having
a six-month spell was the best
option.
“It has taken a while, but it is
wonderful to have him back.”
As he has done throughout his
career, Franco Indie added to a
solid season’s tally for Always B
Miki with his Akaroa Cup win.
The sire is sitting second on
the two-year-old pacing sires
premiership in New Zealand,
while in sixth place in the overall
standings.
“Miki is having a really good
year this year; it is good to see
him leaving some really nice
two and three-year-olds, while
ALL STAR: Franco Indie won the Akaroa Cup on Saturday.
Aardies Express and Franco Indie
are flying the flag among the
older horses,” Henley said.
“One thing about Miki is he
has shown he can leave a top
horse.” – Harness Racing Desk
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