Tasmania’s Office of Racing Integrity has confirmed Ben Yole has been granted a trainer’s licence and will be able to train horses at his Sidmouth property for race meets.

Mr Yole, his brother Tim, and harness drivers Nathan and Mitchell Ford are facing allegations of race fixing, team driving and animal welfare concerns.

They have strenuously denied the allegations.

Following an ABC investigation in March last year, independent integrity expert Ray Murrihy was tasked with probing the state’s harness racing industry. Mr Murrihy named the four men in his report.

One of the outcomes of that report was an independent stewards’ panel be set up, charged with investigating Mr Murrihy’s findings and determining potential punishments.

The final report from the panel is yet to be released.

Industry veteran Kent Rattray said the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) should have waited until the investigation was finalised before approving his licence.

“Most of us have almost had enough to be honest. What was the point of everything we’ve done so far and all the complaints we’ve made. What was it all for?

“It’s got to be cleaned up, the whole industry.”

The 10-month investigation found individuals within the industry engaged in team driving and race fixing, and that there was “no credible explanation” for the race lead to be given up during Race 2 on October 7, 2022 at Burnie, one of several several races investigated.

When the Murrihy Report was released in January, TasRacing issued the four men with “warning off” notices, which prohibited them from entering Tasmanian racetracks.

Under the Australian harness rules of racing, any industry participant who has been “warned off” is unable to participate in the industry.

Since then, those notices have been appealed.

Racing industry surprised by decision

Launceston Pacing Club president Chester Bullock said he was also surprised to hear Mr Yole would be able to train horses again.

“It does seem unusual when the investigation is still ongoing, very surprising,” he said.

“People are looking for confidence and they’re not seeing it from the Integrity Office.”

TasRacing said in a statement the issue of licences was an operational matter for the Office of Racing Integrity.

“This is just an ongoing saga that really should have been resolved by now,” Mr Bullock said.

In a statement, the Office of Racing Integrity said the next report from the Independent Stewards panel is due on September 30, 2024.

Labor, independent blast decision

Tasmanian Labor Leader Dean Winter said it was a “a farcical decision.”

“The Liberals have made Tasmanian racing a national embarrassment … yet the Minister for Racing, Jane Howlett, just stands by and lets it all happen,” he said.

Independent member for Clark, Kristie Johnston said Tasmanians “will be outraged that the ironically named Office of Racing Integrity has granted Ben Yole a trainer’s licence”.

“It’s like the Murrihy report and the ABC investigation never happened.”

In a statement, Minister for Racing Jane Howlett said licensing matters “are the responsibility of the independent Office of Racing Integrity”.

“I am advised the Independent Stewards Panel will hand down their final report in the coming weeks,” she said. 

“It would be inappropriate to comment on these matters at this time.”

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