Racing officials are to hold an inquiry into televised pre-race comments by a racing trainer about his horse which may have affected its TAB odds.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing yesterday announced the inquiry into the comments made by Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers about his horse Stacey Jones before last Saturday's Waikato Hurdles at Te Rapa.
Stacey Jones was a 7 1/4-length winner soon after Myers told the Trackside audience that the track conditions did not suit his horse.
"New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is concerned at the publicity that has arisen as the result of comments made by ... Myers," NZTR chief executive Allan Fenwick said.
"Mr Myers was interviewed on Trackside before the race and again after the horse had won.
"Inquiries are being made with all parties involved, including Trackside, and a report will be made to the NZTR board."
Fenwick said racecourse inspectors would conduct the inquiry and at worst, Myers could be charged with a serious racing offence. Penalties include a $25,000 fine or a term of suspension or disqualification.
"We are investigating the comments because, quite clearly, we are concerned about the implications of them," Fenwick said.
"There are provisions in the rules relating to people bringing racing into disrepute."
Fenwick said racecourse inspectors would determine what Myers and other parties did or did not say.
Before the race, Trackside presenter Adrian Clark asked Myers: "Is it too wet for him?"
Myers replied: "I think it might be a bit puggy for him. If it had rained we would have been right, but it could be a little bit puggy."
After the Waikato Hurdles, Trackside co-presenter Steve Davis asked Myers: "You may have anticipated winning but did you anticipate leading throughout?"
Myers did not reply directly to the question but said: "Yes, I probably have to apologise to the listeners because two weeks ago I told the owner to fly over here; I don't think he'll get beaten in the Waikato.
"He has a bit of a bet now and then, so I had to do it for the owner this time."
Later Davis asked if the heavy track had really been a concern.
"No," Myers said.
Myers later admitted making the comments to inflate the TAB price of the horse for his owner's sake.
"I didn't lie, I just wasn't as forthcoming as I could have been. I was just trying to bring the dividend out a bit," he said in a news interview.
Clark said he could be not believe what Myers had said.
"It was a dreadful thing to say. I was dumbfounded when I heard it.
"This is a terrible thing for racing. Kevin is normally a wonderful talent and a reliable interview, but he's put us back a long way with his comments."
Myers said his comments had been misconstrued and he did have concerns over the state of the track.
But after walking the track on the day of the races and consulting track manager Neil Treweek, he determined the footing was much better along the very inside.
He said that was the ace up his sleeve in regard to tactics, and he was not about to reveal that to opposition trainers and riders.
Stacey Jones went out the seventh favourite in a field of nine and paid $10.70 for a win and $3.05 for a place.
When the pre-race Trackside interview was played, the horse's win dividend was shown as $8.30. The dividend appeared to lengthen in line with the comments of Clark and Davis.
Clark, noting the horse's dividend, added before the race: "Eight dollars sixty (for a win) and two dollars seventy (for a place). Kevin Myers was anything but bullish about the chances of Stacey Jones."
The TAB conducted fixed-odds betting on the Waikato Hurdles and last Thursday night Stacey Jones was at odds of $7.50.
TAB bookmaker Justin Swift said yesterday there was virtually no interest in Stacey Jones.
"He was not touched at all in the fixed-odds," Swift said. "There was hardly any money for him at all. He was one our two best results."
- NZPA
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