Media release – Dean Winter MP, Shadow Minister for Racing, 1 February 2024

TasRacing, interstate stewards set to do what Felix Ellis and ORI won’t

Having watched Madeleine Ogilvie’s disastrous time as Minister for Racing, Felix Ellis has effectively said ‘hold my beer’ in one of the most extraordinarily incompetent displays of oversight in recent memory.

After receiving the Murrihy Review more than two months ago – which made findings of team driving, animal welfare breaches and regulatory failures – Minister Ellis has allowed Mr Yole to continue to race and keep the report hidden – even from TasRacing.

I understand TasRacing only received the report yesterday, with the rest of Tasmania. Now it has made the extraordinary statement which effectively says that given the lack of action from the Director of Racing and Felix Ellis, it is now investigating its own powers to restrict Ben Yole from participating at Tasmanian racetracks on the weekend.

I also understand the third Director of Racing in two months, Robin Thompson, who has no experience in racing, is refusing to stand Ben Yole Racing down. It is beyond comprehension that a sport that relies on integrity would allow a trainer, with these massive findings against him, to continue to participate.

Mr Ellis is hamstrung by his own poor decisions. First to reappoint Justin Helmich while his performance was effectively being investigated. Then to appoint Ash Rushton who also had no experience in racing, before he left before he even started. And finally to appoint Robin Thompson, who also has no experience in racing and appears as unwilling to do anything as his predecessors.

Why is anyone surprised the Office of Racing Integrity has performed so poorly when it has had nine Directors of Racing in a little over two years and none of them have had any experience in the industry they are supposed to be overseeing?

Then there is Jeremy Rockliff, who claims to care about racing. While all of this was going on, he gave unequivocal support to Madeleine Ogilvie. Backing her during no confidence motions and keeping her in the role far too long – all while the industry was begging him to act.

In Victoria, both Ben Yole runners that were set to race last night were late scratchings, Bettor Sport and Yareckon Im Sweet. In New South Wales, Mr Yole has nominated six of the nine runners in race 1 on Saturday. I suspect they won’t be allowed to run either.

Minister Ellis effectively said he had no confidence in the Office of Racing Integrity today. He needs to do what I have been calling on for almost 12 months: urgently seek a senior, experienced steward from interstate who can act as Director of Racing until such time as the new legislation is put in place.

It is clear that Robin Thompson, just like Justin Helmich, does not have the experience or expertise to act in the role of Director of Racing. We need someone with experience and willingness to take on the role and to get our industry through this next period.

Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 1 February 2024

Yole’s $400K+ Domination Highlights Ellis Failure

Yole Stables’ domination of Tasmanian harness race meets in the last two months highlights the complete failure of Racing Minister Felix Ellis to deal with key findings from the Murrihy report.

Minister Ellis was handed the report in November and claims he was ‘shocked’ by its findings – which include appalling conduct by Ben Yole. If the Minister’s words are true, it is beyond belief he didn’t immediately do something – anything.

In the more than two months since the report hit the Minister’s desk, Ben Yole has entered at least 662 horses across 15 race meetings – an average of 44 horses per meet.

With almost total control of many race fields, it’s no surprise Yole-trained horses have taken home winnings of more than $415,000 in that time.

Minister Ellis has known Ben Yole had been found to abuse animals and fixed races for more than two months – and has done nothing. He clearly decided it was fine for Mr Yole to roll on with business as usual.

The Murrihy report has laid bare how successive ministers, Felix Ellis included, have failed to do what’s required to uphold any integrity within the racing industry, not to mention in their obligation to protect the welfare of the horses and dogs within it.

Along with a clear absence of leadership or sound judgement, Felix Ellis has shown – once again – the Liberals have no intention of cleaning up the racing industry.

There’s absolutely no question that Ben Yole must be immediately suspended, and given this latest failure Felix Ellis should brace himself for the return to Parliament.