The acting chief steward of Tasmania racing and one of his colleagues reportedly were suspended amid accusations that they may have been among five stewards caught betting on races.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported Monday that Tasmania’s racing-integrity commissioner Sean Carroll began an investigation that focused on acting chief Thoroughbred steward Michael Castillo and four of his colleagues.
Castillo told the ABC Australia that he was taken off the job. Although he said he did not bet on any races, he said he was cooperating with Carroll’s investigation and expected to be reinstated.
Tasmania’s racing minister Jane Howlett said Carroll’s office, working independently, launched the investigation. Howlett said this was evidence that reforms her team put into effect were working.
“We have delivered the biggest reforms in decades to strengthen our racing industry just like we said we would,” Howlett said in a statement to the ABC.
The website for Tasracing, the governing authority for all racing codes in the island state, had no story to confirm the media report. There was no immediate indication on which races the stewards were accused of betting or how much they wagered.
