On 31 May 2022, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered two charges issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against unlicensed person Robert Murray under Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) 91(1)(a) and 231(2).
At a previous VRT hearing in April 2022, charges issued by the HRV Stewards under AHRR 218 against unlicensed persons Robert Murray and Raharna McDonald in relation to the care and treatment of standardbred Elderado Boy were dismissed by the Tribunal.
Charge 2 was issued under AHRR 91(1), which states:
A person shall not carry on an activity regulated by licence
(a) if that person is not the holder of a current licence
The particulars of this charge relate to Mr Murray carrying out trackwork along with preparing, educating and/or exercising the registered standardbred Elderado Boy when not licensed to do so.
Charges 3 was issued under AHRR 231(2), which states:
A person shall not misconduct himself in any way
The particulars of that charge relate to comments that Mr Murray directed at a HRV Steward that was attending the property where Elderado Boy was being kept.
Mr Murray pleaded guilty to both charges and submissions on penalty were heard on behalf of the HRV Stewards and Mr Murray.
Penalty
Charge 1 – Dismissed
Charge 3 - $200 fine
Charge 3 - $1000 fine, with $500 of that fine suspended for 12 months.
VRT Panel: Judge John Bowman (Chairman) & Judge Kathryn Kings.
The written decisions of the VRT can be found here.
(Please note that VRT Decisions will generally be published within 7-10 days of the date of hearing)