Victoria Police arrest four harness racers after Breeders Crown for alleged game fixing

Victoria Police arrested over the weekend four harness racing drivers accused of gaming-fixing. The arrests were made after the Breeders Crown at TAB Park in Melton.

Among those detained was Nathan Jack, a champion driver who was a previous suspect in an insider leaking scandal to punters to boost their betting odds, reports Sydney Morning Herald. Along with Jack, a man and two women were also arrested in relation to a Cobram race in June 2015, reports 9 News.

The race triggered an investigation if a small number of harness racing personalities cheated, particularly if they manipulated the race to reach a betting outcome. Penalties such as prison term and big fines await those found guilty of game fixing.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton had set up an inquiry into game fixing, led by the Sports Integrity Unit of Victoria Police. He previously warned that the huge growth in online and sports betting in Australia, including those done underground, posed a major risk to Australian sport.

Racing Minister Martin Pakula attempted to improve integrity measures across all three racing codes by reforming the anti-corruption unit of the Victoria Police force. The force spearheaded several investigations that found match-fixing which involved a semi-professional Victorian soccer team, the Southern Stars, and a probe on suspected corruption on professional tennis.

The team arrested and charged in 2015 Shayne and Greg Camp, a father-and-son harness racing team who pleaded guilty to race fixing offences and got 12-year bans, but avoided prison term.

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Chairman Dale Monteith says the agency would consider suspending racing licences of those arrested once charged are laid, reports 9News.

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