Media release – Robin Thompson, Director of Racing, 20 January 2025
Independent Stewards Panel Decisions
The Independent Stewards Panel (the Panel) today informed Mr Ben Yole and Mr Tim Yole that they have been determined to be guilty of a charge issued under the Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 218(A) and that a penalty of three years disqualification back dated to 29 July 2024 has been applied to both participants.
The Panel today also informed Mr Ben Yole that he has been determined guilty of one charge under AHRR 196D(1) and that a penalty of a $5000 fine has been applied.
Further the Panel today informed Mr Ben Yole he has been determined not guilty of one charge under AHRR 196D(1).
A copy of the determinations are available on the Office of Racing Integrity website at https://nre.tas.gov.au/racing/stewards-inquiries-decisions
Under Section 28 of the Racing Regulation Act 2004, appeals against a decision of stewards may be lodged with the Tasmanian Racing Appeal Board.
Media release – Animal Liberation Tasmania, 31 January 2025
YOLE STABLES MUST CLOSE
In light of the recent disqualification of Ben and Tim Yole from harness racing as a result of their engaging in systematic animal abuse, Animal Liberation Tasmania (ALT) are calling for the immediate closure of the Yole Stables at Sidmouth. Further, ALT are calling for the cost of rehabilitation and safe rehoming of all Yole horses to come from Tasracing and the Yole Stables themselves.
The Yole Stables have long been associated with poor living conditions for horses as well as myriad other associated issues. The stewards decision released yesterday confirmed that systematic abuse of horses was undertaken by the Yoles as part of an ongoing training regimine. However, Ben Yole’s disqualification from racing raises more questions than it answers.
In previous years when Yole has been suspended or warned off, he has simply transferred horses to his father Wayne Yole. Other horses have been sent to the mainland to race under an agent for the Yoles, including the disgraced Robert Walters. However, under the Australian Harness Racing Rules, disqualified persons cannot:
(a) associate or communicate with persons connected with the harness racing industry for purposes relating to that industry;
(b) be a member or employee of the Controlling Body;
(c) be an office holder, official, member or employee of a club;
(d) enter a racecourse or any place under the control of a club or Controlling Body;
(e) race, lease, train, drive or nominate a horse;
(f) conduct breeding activities;
(g) enter any premises used for the purposes of the harness racing industry;
(h) participate in any manner in the harness racing industry;
(i) permit or authorise any person to conduct any activity associated with the harness racing industry at his/her registered training establishment;
(j) place of have placed on their behalf, or have any other interest in, a bet on any Australian harness racing race;
(k) associate with licensed persons connected with the thoroughbred or greyhound racing industry including but not limited to entering any premises owned or occupied by such licensed persons.
It should not be permissible under the strictest following of this rule for either Ben or Tim Yole to reside or even enter the Sidmouth property. If their offending was such that so severe a penalty was deemed appropriate, it should follow that it not be permissible for any horses to be transferred from one Yole to another to continue being trained at said stables.
Nor should Yole Stables be permitted to send any horses to Anthony Bullock (who is known to have ‘dogged’ horses for the Yoles over the years to be fed to his greyhounds) given the restrictions of association with licensed persons from other racing codes.
The cost of rehoming and rehabilitation of these horses must fall on the Yole Stables as the perpetrators of this abuse, and on Tasracing who have enabled the Yole Stables in their lucrative endeavours for far too long.
The questions that remain are whether said transfers in anticipation of of after the handing down of the steward’s decision should be permitted; whether the Yole Stables as one of the largest in the country should be allowed to continue operations; and whether criminal prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act will be pursued for the systematic abuse of horses on that property.
Even with a disqualification, it is not unforeseeable that Ben and Tim Yole both be able to continue ‘business as usual’ so long as horses are transferred elsewhere to other agents, and if stewards opt to soften some of the conditions under the racing rules of disqualification (as is their right under the rule).
With such a lengthy history of scandal attached to the irredeemable Yole Stables, it is impossible to see how such a business should be enabled to continue practicing, and as such its closure and criminal prosecutions against both Ben and Tim Yole are the only acceptable outcomes. It is incumbent upon Racing Minister Howlett and Tasracing to pursue all possible means to shut down the Yole Stables.
Media release – Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, 31 January 2025
Reaction to Yole Convictions
“The long overdue prosecution of Ben Yole showcases yet again how entrenched animal cruelty is in Tasmania’s racing industry culture.
“The successful ‘razzing’ cruelty charge was denied by Mr Yole and described by him as being a “very low” level of mistreatment.
“Despite the penalties, I’m still very concerned about the welfare of Yole’s horses. The evidence shows he simply should not be allowed anywhere near a horse.
“Tasracing has regularly celebrated Ben Yole as a benchmark for training excellence. This shows how far Tasmania has to go before we take animal cruelty seriously.”
