Bets off for racing guru

Michael Guerin. Photo / NZ Herald

High-profile TV horse racing presenter Michael Guerin has been sacked from his job after an investigation into credit betting.

Guerin phoned in a $1000 bet to an Auckland TAB agency earlier this month. About 15 minutes later he went to the agency and paid for it. Credit betting - placing a bet and then paying for it later - is illegal.

Guerin, also the NZ Herald's racing editor, said yesterday he had been pinged for "laziness" - he lives above the Parnell TAB and phoned the bet through before walking "25 steps" to pay for it within 15 minutes. The race did not run for another seven hours.

"I would perceive most people in the industry would feel comfortable with that ... the race wasn't for seven hours and there was no intent to defraud," Guerin said.

He said his case was not one of traditional credit betting where people short of money placed bets and paid it back after the race.

Ironically, the horse did not win.

TAB agency managers who are caught accepting credit bets usually have their contracts terminated by the New Zealand Racing Board. The Parnell branch which accepted the bet has been under investigation and is expected to know its fate next week.

A woman who said she was the manager refused to comment yesterday.

Guerin has hosted the New Zealand Racing Board's Trackside programme for 11 years.

Guerin said he had been overwhelmed by support from associates in the industry and said he would be back on track working next weekend.

His other employers, including the NZ Herald, had confidence in him, he said.

He did not agree with the NZ Racing Board's interpretation of the rules but had "no qualms" that they were within their rights.

NZ Racing Board chief executive Andrew Brown refused to discuss the credit betting investigation.

"Michael's contract has been under review for the last couple of weeks and we have decided not to renew his contract. This is a confidential matter," said Brown.

Leading harness trainer Tim Butt yesterday defended Guerin, saying he had been dealt with harshly.

"It's a disgrace. In my view he should have been given a warning or a slap on the wrist. To lose his job over something like this is not fair," he said.

The Herald on Sunday understands TAB staff at its head office in Wellington became aware of the credit bet when an alert was automatically triggered when the investment was made.

All big bets trigger an alert.

They became suspicious when surveillance cameras at the Parnell branch, which are linked to the TAB's head office, showed no customers there. About 15 minutes later Guerin was captured on camera going to the counter and paying money into his TAB account.

Another racing personality Graham Bruton - known as Steel Balls for his fearless big punting - was another to fall from grace for credit betting. He now sells cars in Wellington.