A Victorian harness trainer, Robbie Walters, was recently allowed to train horses in Tasmania under his Victorian license, despite facing reprimands for forging a signature on his license application document. The Tasmanian Racing Integrity found Walters guilty of knowingly providing false information on his application by forging the signature of a neighboring property owner without their knowledge.
Even though Walters admitted to submitting falsified documents and was fined $2,000 with $1,000 suspended for two years, he was still granted permission to train horses in Tasmania. This decision was made after Walters applied to transfer 20 horses from the Yole Racing stables to his care, with plans to race them in upcoming meets.
A stewards inquiry held on May 29 revealed Walters’ actions, which included failing to provide a urine sample before a harness meet and later testing positive for a prohibited substance. Despite these findings, the Office of Racing Integrity allowed Walters to operate as a trainer in Tasmania, leading to industry uproar and intervention from Racing Minister Jane Howlett.
Minister Howlett requested the director of racing to block nominations of horses trained by Walters, and confirmed that Walters would not be eligible to field runners in the upcoming races. She also announced that Walters would face a panel next week to address questions regarding his application for a full Tasmanian trainer’s license.
The issue was brought up in state parliament, where Labor leader Dean Winter questioned the Minister about her knowledge of the forgery charge and the actions taken by the Office of Racing Integrity. Despite the controversy surrounding Walters’ past actions, the decision to allow him to train horses in Tasmania raised concerns within the racing industry.
The case of Robbie Walters highlights the importance of integrity and transparency in the horse racing industry. While individuals may face reprimands for misconduct, it is essential to ensure that the welfare of the horses and the integrity of the sport are prioritized. Moving forward, it is crucial for regulatory bodies to enforce strict guidelines and penalties to maintain the credibility of horse racing events.