TWO men have been charged after allegedly administering performance enhancing substances to the winner of this year’s Tamworth Cup.
Strike Force Trentbridge – comprising detectives from the Firearms and Organised Crime Squad’s Casino and Racing Investigation Unit – was formed to investigate allegations of race fixing in NSW.
As a result of strike force inquiries, detectives unveiled an alleged irregularity during the running of the Tamworth Cup on 28 April 2013.
It will be alleged the winner, Prussian Secret, had been drenched prior to the race.
“Drenching” involves administering substances to a horse prior to a race to improve the animal’s performance.
Yesterday (Sunday 12 May 2013), Strike Force detectives with the assistance of Racing NSW and Racing Stewards conducted search warrants at properties in Attunga and Bendemeer.
A 27-year-old man was arrested at the property in Attunga while a 47-year-old man was arrested at a property in Bendemeer. During a search of the Bendemeer property police allegedly located a .222 rifle and various types of ammunition.
Both men were taken to Tamworth Police Station where the 27-year-old was charged with facilitate conduct that corrupts betting outcome of event, engage in conduct that corrupts outcome of event and use corrupt conduct information to bet on event.
The 47-year-old man was charged with engage in conduct that corrupts betting outcome of event, facilitate conduct that corrupts betting outcome of event, possess unauthorised firearm and possess unregistered firearm.
Both men were granted conditional bail to appear in Tamworth Local Court on Monday 27 May 2013.
As part of their investigation, detectives executed a third search warrant at a property in Bendemeer where they located and seized three firearms including a .22 calibre Sterling automatic rifle, a .22 calibre magnum rifle, an air rifle and an amount of ammunition.
A 64-year-old man will be spoken to by police and is expected to be charged with multiple firearms offences.
Firearms and Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Ken Finch said the strike force, in conjunction with racing authorities, is continuing its inquiries across all forms of racing in NSW.
NSW POLICE MEDIA RELEASE