NZ HARNESS NEWS
Canterbury trainer-driver Jack Harrington has been fined $650 for betting on a horse he was engaged to drive at Addington last month.
Harrington placed a $145 win bet with the NZ TAB on trotter Diana Harbour, which he trains at Swannanoa, at 8.32pm the night before the July 21 race, via the internet.
The Racing Integrity Unit’s betting analyst advised stewards that Harrington had placed the bet and he was prohibited from driving in the race and replaced by Dexter Dunn.
Diana Harbour, who started win favourite, broke at the start and finished third-to-last.
Harrington admitted the charge immediately when questioned by stewards and said he was not aware of the rule change in April 2014 that banned drivers betting on a horse that they were driving.
Harrington submitted that because he had placed a win bet he would be trying harder to win than someone who had placed an each-way bet.
In fixing the penalty, stewards accepted that Harrington’s explanation was truthful, but said that he had an obligation to keep up to date with the rules. The rule did not distinguish between place and win bets and all bets were banned when engaged to drive.
Diana Harbour won a mobile trot over 2000m at Rangiora two days later when driven by Gavin Smith and paid $6.30.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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