Tasmania’s Racing Minister Jane Howlett has defended the Office of Racing Integrity’s decision to renew a training licence to racing heavyweight Ben Yole.
Mr Yole, his brother Tim, and harness drivers Nathan and Mitchell Ford are facing allegations of race fixing, team driving and animal welfare concerns.
They have strenuously denied the allegations.
In parliament on Tuesday morning, Ms Howlett was asked if she considered Mr Yole a fit and proper person to hold a trainer’s licence.
“Licencing matters are dealt with by the director of racing,” she said.
“The licence held by Ben Yole was never suspended, so you can’t reinstate a licence that hasn’t been suspended.”
Ben Yole applied to renew his trainer’s licence on July 22 and it was approved a week later. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
Ms Howlett confirmed that Mr Yole’s licence was approved by Tasmania’s director of racing on July 30.
“Licenced participants in racing need to renew their licence annually, like a car driver’s licence,” she said.
“I acknowledge the diligence of the independent stewards and brave individuals that have come forward during this investigation, and I’m looking forward to the panel handing down its final report.”
Following an ABC investigation in March last year, independent integrity expert Ray Murrihy was tasked with probing the state’s harness racing industry. Mr Murrihy named the four men in his report.
One of the outcomes of that report was an independent stewards’ panel be set up, charged with investigating Mr Murrihy’s findings and determining potential punishments.
The final report from the panel is yet to be released.
The report called for an overhaul of the racing model to encourage greater competition and stop races being dominated by one stable. (Supplied: Harness Racing Victoria)
Industry veteran Kent Rattray said the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) should have waited until the investigation was finalised before approving his licence.
“I’m pretty disappointed with ORI that they’ve let this happen. We’re in the middle of an inquiry. They should have waited until the final report is released,” he said.
“Most of us have almost had enough to be honest. What was the point of everything we’ve done so far and all the complaints we’ve made. What was it all for?
“It’s got to be cleaned up, the whole industry.”
The 10-month investigation found individuals within the industry engaged in team driving and race fixing, and that there was “no credible explanation” for the race lead to be given up during Race 2 on October 7, 2022 at Burnie, one of several several races investigated.
When the Murrihy Report was released in January, TasRacing issued the four men with “warning off” notices, which prohibited them from entering Tasmanian racetracks.
Under the Australian harness rules of racing, any industry participant who has been “warned off” is unable to participate in the industry.
Since then, those notices have been appealed.
Launceston Pacing Club president Chester Bullock said he was also surprised to hear Mr Yole would be able to train horses again.
“It does seem unusual when the investigation is still ongoing, very surprising,” he said.
“It just creates doubt in people’s minds about how the industry is being run. It affects everyone’s confidence, and it also shows how weak ORI is.
“People are looking for confidence and they’re not seeing it from the Integrity Office.”
TasRacing said in a statement the issue of licences was an operational matter for the Office of Racing Integrity.
“This is just an ongoing saga that really should have been resolved by now,” Mr Bullock said.
In a statement, the Office of Racing Integrity said the next report from the Independent Stewards panel is due on September 30, 2024.
Trainer Ben Yole’s property is near Sidmouth in Tasmania’s north. (ABC News)
Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter said it was a “a farcical decision.”
“The Liberals have made Tasmanian racing a national embarrassment … yet the Minister for Racing, Jane Howlett, just stands by and lets it all happen,” he said.
“Just another Liberal racing minister who’s there for the events, but not there when the participants need her.”
Independent member for Clark, Kristie Johnston said Tasmanians “will be outraged that the ironically named Office of Racing Integrity has granted Ben Yole a trainer’s licence”.
“If she takes racing integrity seriously, racing minister Jane Howlett must intervene to stop this nonsense.
“It’s like the Murrihy report and the ABC investigation never happened.”
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