Media release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Racing, 2 February 2024
Tasracing venue bans
TasRacing has today served notices preventing racing venue entry against a number of individuals named in the Murrihy Report with adverse findings.
“I welcome TasRacing’s decision to prevent individuals named in the Murrihy report from entering our venues,” Racing Minister Felix Ellis said.
“Under our new model which abolishes the Office of Racing Integrity, TasRacing will have a much greater role to play in the day-to-day integrity decisions of racing.
“These actions are a clear demonstration that Tasracing is highly capable of this and is taking this new responsibility seriously.
“I have also appreciated their proactive response more broadly, allocating an additional $150,000 to training stewards and $100,000 for RSPCA animal welfare inspections.
“Hearings by the independent panel of stewards will continue to determine broader sanctions and charges as appropriate,” Minister Ellis said.
Media release – Dean Winter MP, Shadow Minister for Racing, 2 February 2024
TasRacing does what Minister was too impotent to do
Felix Ellis has been totally embarrassed by TasRacing. TasRacing made the right decision and I welcome it.
Only yesterday, Minister Ellis was telling the media we need ‘due process’. Then his TasRacing Board and CEO went over his head and banned Mr Yole and his accomplices.
TasRacing had the report for a day, and quickly realised what needed to be done.
Minister Ellis had the report for two months, and didn’t do anything.
The Minister’s inaction is entirely symptomatic of a government that has lost its way and is in complete disarray after 10 years in office.
Darkest day for a Racing Minister since Madeleine Ogilvie saga
Felix Ellis has been found to be completely out of his depth. The level of his incompetence is staggering.
Yesterday, Minister Ellis said action on the four named individuals could prejudice a legal process. Today, Mr Yole and his accomplices have been banned from tracks by TasRacing and eventually scratched at 3pm – just hours before they were due to race.
Only yesterday, Minister Ellis was telling the media we need ‘due process’. Then his TasRacing Board and CEO went over his head and banned Mr Yole and his accomplices.
TasRacing had the report for a day, and quickly realised what needed to be done.
Minister Ellis had the report for two months and didn’t do anything.
How on earth did he honestly think Ben Yole runners could compete this weekend with the findings against them?
He gave himself two months to prepare for this moment and he still stuffed it up.
Minister Ellis watched Ben Yole runners compete for two months, knowing horses had probably been abused and traumatised, they were living in substandard conditions and drivers had said they had been told to fix races for Mr Yole.
Today I wrote to the Director of Racing and reminded him of the rules of racing. These rules outline that Mr Yole and his accomplices were not allowed to train or own runners.
They have now been scratched.
The Minister’s inaction is entirely symptomatic of a government that has lost its way and is in complete disarray after 10 years in office.
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 2 February 2024
TasRacing Venue Bans Far Too Late
TasRacing’s decision today to ban those individuals with adverse findings against them in the Murrihy report should have happened two and half months ago. Instead of immediately acting to refer the matter, Minister Ellis did nothing when he received the report.
Minister Ellis has known of Mr Murrihy’s adverse findings which show Ben Yole engaged in race fixing, team driving and animal abuse for months, but he didn’t stir himself to act. This Minister has consistently failed to demonstrate leadership, sound judgement or any meaningful intention to clean up the racing industry.
Over the months Felix Ellis kept the Murrihy report secret, Ben Yole netted more than $415,000 in winnings from races.
Ben Yole was allowed to continue racing many hundreds of horses, despite being found to have engaged in race fixing and animal cruelty.
At the very least, all those adversely named in the report – and now banned by TasRacing – should be required to return the winnings they have banked since the report was handed to Minister Ellis. Findings of animal cruelty and race fixing should not be rewarded.
Under Minister Ellis and previous ministers, the Liberals have consistently failed to protect the integrity of the racing industry and animal welfare as Tasmanians expect.
