BRENT ZERAFA reports in the SYDNEY TELEGRAPH that no further arrests were made by Strike Force Tairora yesterday, but several harness racing identities remain on edge, privately telling friends and fellow participants that it won't be long until the police arrive on their doorstep.
"This is just scraping the tip of the iceberg," Harness Racing NSW regulatory manager Reid Sanders said yesterday.
As shocking as it has been to see five people, including leading drivers Greg Bennett, Cameron Fitzpatrick, trainers Dean Atkinson and Michael Russo and steward Paul O'Toole arrested - others involved in the scandal have yet to be charged.
Sanders, who is conducting a separate investigation to the NSW Police, is keen for trainers and drivers to be brought to justice, but he is also adamant those pulling the strings behind the scenes must be caught.
"There are a number of people located interstate that we intend to speak to regarding our investigation. We have limited our investigation to races conducted in NSW," Sanders said. "We will be sitting down and speaking with police early in the week and after that we will have a better understanding as to where we are positioned and how we can move on from here.
"Our investigations were almost complete, we were
close to being in a position to act, but that has been placed on hold at this stage while we wait on the outcome of the moves by police."
It was alleged in Lithgow Local Court on Thursday that steward Paul O'Toole received more than $400,000 for his involvement, a figure denied by his legal team.
This figure is sizeable, but a source has indicated to The Sunday Telegraph that punters, who were also receiving the information as to which horses would be given the green light, were netting substantial sums on some races.
Cameron Fitzpatrick, the son of premier trainer and Harold Park legend Paul Fitzpatrick, was stood down from duties at Menangle Park last night as a result of his arrest.
Cameron is understood to have made advances to Harness Racing NSW to attend the Miracle Mile meeting despite the charges against his name.
HRNSW officials informed the youngest of three Fitzpatrick boys that he was not to attend and that measures would be put in place to ensure that he was not on course.
STORY SOURCE: SUNDAY TELEGRAPH - NEWS LIMITED.
