Top harness driver suspended over QRIC race fixing investigation

ONE of Australia’s leading harness drivers has been suspended from participating in the sport after he was charged with two counts of match (race) fixing.

Shane Graham will ineligible to compete in the sport effective immediately following the the announcement by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) on Saturday.

“I have suspended the training and harness driving licences of 35-year-old Shane Robert Graham under the Standard for Licensing Scheme,” Commissioner Ross Barnett said.

“The scheme allows the Commission to immediately suspend any licence where the licence holder has been charged with match-fixing.”

Graham is one of three people arrested today as part of a police operation tackling match fixing and other offences in the harness code.

“I have also suspended the licence of driver 18-year-old Leonard Thomas Cain,” Commissioner Barnett said.

Mr Cain and a former trainer of one of the horses involved in a relevant race were also charged with match fixing as part of today’s operation.

Mr Graham represented Australia in the World Harness Driving Championships in Canada earlier this year, and won the Queensland State Drivers Premiership in October for the third consecutive year after guiding home 185 winners.

Watch the offending race below

Mr Cain is employed as a concession driver and is currently ranked ninth in the Queensland State Drivers Premierships with 20 wins from 177 starts following his maiden drive at Redcliffe last year.

“These latest arrests now take the number of match fixing arrests in the harness code to seven,” Commissioner Barnett said.

“This should send the clearest message to participants that if you do the wrong thing and undermine the integrity of the sport then we are coming after you.

“There is no place for match fixing in Queensland’s racing industry and no one is immune from prosecution.”

Both accused licence holders must show cause as to why their licences should not be suspended if they are to avoid the sanction.