The Tasmania director of racing took immediate action to prevent Victorian trainer Robbie Walters from participating in harness meets this weekend. This decision came after a request from the state’s racing minister, Jane Howlett, who urged the Director of Racing, Robin Thompson, to reject Walters’ application for a Tasmanian trainer’s license and to disallow nominations of Walters-trained horses for upcoming meets.
The move sparked a joint statement from 16 leading harness racing trainers and drivers, expressing disbelief at the decision and calling for the minister to intervene and reverse it. Concerns were raised about Walters’ association with the Yole Racing stable and the transfer of horses from Wayne Yole to Walters. While there were no allegations of wrongdoing, the industry worried about the potential perception of field domination, especially after 20 horses were transferred to Walters from Wayne Yole.
The Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) confirmed that Walters applied to have the horses transferred into his name and was approved, as their training facilities were not considered connected under Tasracing’s equity in participation policy. However, this decision faced heavy criticism from industry participants, who raised concerns about harness integrity suffering once again.
Further scrutiny on Walters’ record revealed instances where he failed to provide a urine sample at a meet, tested positive for a prohibited substance, and engaged in team driving during races. These incidents, along with two horses testing positive for arsenic while under Walters’ care, raised red flags for industry participants and prompted the minister to demand urgent action from the Director of Racing.
In response to these concerns, the Director of Racing exercised his power under the Australian Harness Racing Rules to reject Walters’ nominations of horses for racing until he provides satisfactory answers to all inquiries. This decision aims to uphold the integrity of the sport and ensure that all participants adhere to the highest standards of conduct.
The controversy surrounding Robbie Walters’ involvement in Tasmanian harness racing highlights the importance of maintaining transparency, fairness, and integrity in the industry. By taking swift and decisive action, the authorities demonstrate their commitment to upholding these principles and protecting the sport from any potential misconduct or unethical behavior. As the investigation unfolds, stakeholders remain vigilant in safeguarding the reputation and credibility of harness racing in Tasmania.