HARNESS trainer/driver Trevor Lambourn has been disqualified for two years and fined $10,000 after stewards found him guilty of placing bets on horses he drove and/or trained in races, as well as horses driven and trained by others in races he drove in between March 2012 and February this year.

Racing Queensland stewards inquired into Mr Lambourn’s driving tactics on Kalvin in Race 3 at Albion Park on Friday, 27 February 2015 after the gelding lead the field at a quick tempo before finishing last by 24m.

 

Stewards found insufficient evidence to charge Mr Lambourn; however evidence presented during the inquiry relating to betting activity on the race led to further investigation, which uncovered a number of wagers of concern to stewards.

Between 24 February 2012 and 27 February 2015, Mr Lambourn placed almost 400 bets on: horses he drove in races; horses trained and driven by others in races he participated in; and horses he trained but did not drive in races he participated in..

Chief Harness Steward David Farquharson said Mr Lambourn faced two charges of breaching AHR Rule 173(1), which reads ‘a driver shall not bet in a race in which the driver participates.’ He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

“Mr Lambourn was found guilty on both charges and based on the seriousness of the offences and the quantity of bets placed, Stewards imposed penalties of a $10,000 fine for the first charge and a two year disqualification on the second charge,” Mr Farquharson said.

“The disqualification will begin on February 27, 2015, the date on which Mr Lambourn was first suspended.”