Horse racing cheats will be caught, with integrity to be the number one priority in the sport, Victoria’s racing chief says.
Racing Victoria chief executive officer Bernard Saundry said there may be small pockets of people who want to try to beat the system, but that can happen in any business.
Earlier this year, Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna found cheating in racing was not endemic, following a six-month inquiry into the sport.
Mr Saundry said on Thursday cheats will be caught.
“From my perspective, integrity is my number one priority,” he told journalists in Melbourne.
“If people want to cheat they will get caught.”
The January findings by Mr Perna came on the back of a spring carnival tainted by the eight-month suspension handed down to leading jockey Damien Oliver for betting on a rival horse, when he rode another horse in the same race.
Premier Denis Napthine said racing authorities had employed staff from the police force to bolster their integrity system.
“People want to make sure they get a fair run for their money, whether they have a dollar bet on a horse, or whether they’re a horse owner, trainer or jockey,” he said.
While Mr Perna reported finding no evidence of “systemic race-fixing” he said his inquiry was hindered by legislative and procedural restrictions and its conclusions could be unreliable.
