KEY POINTS:
Police are investigating a threat which has forced changes to the JCA panel in one of New Zealand racing's most controversial cases.
Judicial Control Authority member Brian Scott has been removed from the panel hearing charges against Patumahoe trainer Geoff Small after an anonymous caller threatened to burn down Scott's Pukekohe home.
That forced JCA bosses to remove Scott from the panel for next Wednesday's hearing, at which Small faces three charges.
The charges relate to Small's drive behind Pocket Baileyship in the $195,000 Sales Series Pace at Alexandra Park on December 31, a race won by stablemate Changeover.
Small has been charged with an act detrimental to harness racing, improper driving and not giving Pocket Baileyship every chance.
Those charges relate to an incident with 1200m to run where Small pulled out from the trail behind leader Another Creation to sit parked.
Soon after Changeover had enough room to get off the marker pegs from his three-deep position.
Changeover worked to the lead and won the race while Pocket Baileyship, one of the outsiders, faded to 10th.
Scott was on the panel which allowed the hearing to be deferred on the day and it has subsequently been rescheduled after Harness Racing New Zealand laid the two more serious charges in late January.
If Small is found guilty of the act detrimental to harness racing charge he could be disqualified from training.
Scott was shocked by the threat made to his son, also named Brian, on February 5.
"I got a suspicious call in the morning from somebody asking if I was Brian Scott from the JCA," Scott senior told the Herald.
"But later that night I was out and my 14-year-old son was home with my daughter.
"He answered the phone and when the person on the other end asked if that was Brian Scott he naturally said yes.
"The person then said 'if you find him guilty I am going to burn your house down'."
Scott says while no mention was made of the Small hearings it was the only panel to which he was assigned at the time. "It was very disturbing for the whole family and made me feel quite vulnerable. After all, I am only doing a job."
Scott's request to remain on the panel was refused.
"I didn't want to be seen to be backing down but I also understand the need for impartiality.
"I suppose whatever happens at the hearing people could think my judgment was influenced one way or the other by the threat. It is a pretty sad incident though."
Scott reported the two calls to HRNZ chief racecourse inspector Rod Carmichael who went with him to the Pukekohe police station.
It is believed police are now looking at phone records in their search for the person who made the threat.
"It is a police matter now but we are still involved in the early stages of the investigation and will take our own action if we find any racing person is involved," said Carmichael.
Small could not be contacted yesterday but Herald sources reveal he was unaware of the incident.
The threat mirrors an even more serious incident in New South Wales harness racing this year when chief steward Ron Bottle had his car set on fire outside his house after being involved in some high-level inquiries.
Police have yet to lay charges over that incident.
