Reefton TC 30 December 2024 – R3 – Graeme Olson (Request for a Ruling)

BACKGROUND:

Information No. A20564 was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Matt Sole, requesting a Ruling that Judge’s Assistant, Graeme Leslie Olson, be removed alleging that he “placed bets during the day in breach of Rule 310(1)(b)”.

The hearing of the request took place following the running of Race 3.

The Respondent had endorsed the Information “I do admit a breach of the rule”. At the commencement of the hearing, both relevant Rules were read to the Respondent who confirmed that he understood the Rules and the nature of the Request for a Ruling.

310    (1) No person acting as a Starter or Starter’s Assistant or Judge or Judge’s Assistant or duly appointed substitute therefore either as a Paid Official or in an honorary capacity shall:-

(b)  bet or be interested in any wager or bet on any race at any race meeting where he is officiating.

211   (1)   During a race meeting a Stipendiary Steward shall, in addition to all other powers   conferred on him by these Rules, have power:-

  (b)   to request the Adjudicative Committee to order the removal of the Judge, Starter, or Clerk of the Course, for the duration of the meeting and to order the appointment of another person to act in the place of the person so removed;

EVIDENCE:

Racing Investigator, Kylie Williams outlined to the hearing the background to the Request for the Ruling being sought.

She said that she had been made aware of a possible breach by a Judge’s Assistant of Rule 310(1)(b). She approached the Judge, Tom Shaw, and his Assistant, Graeme Olson, and asked if either had placed a bet. Both answered no. She made further enquiries with the TAB Operator who advised that someone had placed a bet, but she did not know who. The Operator was unable to identify either Mr Shaw or Mr Olson.

Mrs Williams approached Mr Shaw and Mr Olson again. The latter then admitted that he had placed a $1 easybet trifecta on every race, put the tickets in his bag for his grandchildren and shut the bag. When requested, Mr Olson handed the tickets to Mrs Williams which she produced at the hearing. The tickets had been issued at 11.39am, she said (46 minutes prior to the start time of Race 1).

Mr Olson confirmed what Mrs Williams had told the hearing. He said he had placed the bets, but had no idea what the tickets were. He was giving them to his grandchildren to look after, he said. He realised now that, as a Judge’s Assistant, he was not permitted to place a bet.

Chief Stipendiary Steward, Nigel McIntyre, on behalf of Mr Sole, sought a Ruling that Mr Olson be removed from his duties as Judge’s Assistant for the remainder of the meeting.

RULING:

It is ordered that Judge’s Assistant, Graeme Olson, be removed for the duration of the meeting and, further, that Nigel Marx is appointed in place of Mr Olson so removed.

REASONS FOR RULING:

The Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that Mr Olson had placed bets – 10 x $1.00 trifecta easybets – prior to Race 1 at today’s meeting. An “easybet” is a ticket issued by the tote operator after the computer has decided which horse or horses to pick for the customer. The tickets purchased by Mr Olson constituted bets or an interest in wagers or bets at a race meeting where Mr Olson was officiating as Judge’s Assistant.

Mr McIntyre has requested this Adjudicative Committee to order the removal of Mr Olson as Judge’s Assistant for the duration of the meeting and to appoint another person to act in his place. Whilst the Rule does not specifically give the Adjudicative Committee the power to order removal of a Judge’s Assistant, it is common sense that the power should extend to a Judge’s Assistant, where a breach of Rule 310(1)(b) has been committed.