Nigel McGrath is facing five charges and has been served with a notice banning him from entering any racecourse.
- Harness racing controversy: Bugged phone calls between driver and businessman
- Opinion: Bugged phone calls and big betting
His West Melton property was raided by Racing Integrity Unit officials last month.
He has now been charged with:
- Attempting to administer with another person a prohibited substance to Steel The Show.
- Refusing to make a statement to inspectors regarding his actions.
- Obstructing a racecourse inspector(s) in their attempts to seize evidence.
- Failure to follow lawful direction when instructed regarding Steel The Show.
- Failure to follow lawful direction when requested regarding production of evidence.
McGrath’s property was raided hours before Steel The Show and another horse, Cloud Nine, were due to race at Addington.
RIU inspectors found tubing equipment, used to administer substances to horses, and McGrath and another man at the property.
Steel The Show and Cloud Nine were immediately banned from racing at Addington.
McGrath did not return calls and his lawyer, Pip Hall QC, said he would not be making any comment.
McGrath’s horses have been transferred to other trainers’ stables.
It is not the first time McGrath has been charged with horse doping offences. In 2004 he was caught up in the Blue Magic scandal, and was found guilty by the Judicial Control Authority of administering propantheline bromide to horses before racing.
McGrath was also caught up in the ongoing police investigation into the racing industry, codenamed Operation Inca.
He was charged with a race-fixing offence, which was later dismissed in the district court.
The charge came after raceway stipendiary stewards launched an inquiry after a race at Addington Raceway in March 2018.
The matter was heard by the Judicial Control Authority, during which details of a phone call between McGrath and a big-betting businessman associated with his stable emerged for the first time.
During the phone call, McGrath is asked by the businessman if Star Commander would beat Sheriff.
“Nah. Oh, if it does, it won’t. If-if it ah. Nah, don’t worry, don’t worry about Star Commander. Star Commander won’t get in Sheriff’s way. You don’t want that,” he said.
Betting records showed the businessman put $27,252 on 19 bets, involving wins, multis, quaddies, trebles and a double, on Sheriff to win $37,057.
After originally pleading not guilty to a serious racing offence and a charge of improper driving, McGrath changed his plea to guilty for the lesser charge of improper driving on the second day of the hearing.
He was suspended from driving for six months and ordered to pay costs of $11,500.
The businessman is facing criminal charges in the district court. He has interim name suppression.
