Harness Racing NSW confirmed yesterday that a 34-year-old Tamworth man, who has been named as local trainer Anthony Mabbott, had his licence suspended and has been stood down from racing.

Anthony Mabbott declined to comment to the The Northern Daily Leader yesterday.

He was charged on Monday with four offences, including two counts of facilitating conduct that corrupts the betting outcome of an event and two counts of use corrupt conduct information to bet on event.

The facilitate conduct charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment while the former charge carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail.

Mr Mabbott has been granted conditional bail to front Tamworth Local Court on June 24.

Head of the Casino and Racing Investigation Unit Detective Inspector Wayne Walpole confirmed they had been investigating a man for some time.

“We will be alleging that the 34-year-old was involved in at least two races that have come to our attention” Detective Inspector Walpole said.

“[We will allege] he, with Robert Clement and other persons, facilitated corrupt conduct of a betting event.”

It’s believed those harness meetings were held in Tamworth and Muswellbrook in April.

Detective Inspector Walpole said they will use phone taps to try and support their allegations in court.

“It’s no secret now that we’ve relied on a number of telecommunications intercepts, and certainly that will form part of the evidence.”

Officials from Harness Racing NSW were also involved in the raid on the Werris Creek Rd property at Duri on Monday morning.

A spokesperson confirmed senior integrity staff will conduct interviews and open an inquiry of their own next week.

They expect to interview a number of people in the Tamworth area in relation to the alleged incidents in Tamworth and Muswellbrook.

Harness Racing NSW also confirmed Robert Clement’s harness training licence was withdrawn on March 26 at a board meeting in Sydney.

Clement faces 12 race fixing and firearms charges and won’t front Tamworth Local Court again until July 10.

The charges relate to both harness race meetings spanning from December last year to April this year in Tamworth and Muswellbrook, as well as his alleged involvement in the doping of Prussian Secret before the Tamworth Cup on April 28.

Cody Morgan, who is also charged over the Prussian Secret incident, will reappear in Tamworth Local Court today for a bail hearing.

Morgan’s solicitor Paul O’Sullivan will attempt to use the results of a blood sample from the horse today to try and argue for a relaxation of Morgan’s bail conditions.

Currently, Morgan cannot train horses or travel within 250 metres of a racetrack.

Mr O’Sullivan wants to try and have Morgan’s bail amended to allow him to continue training to earn an income.

Racing NSW confirmed to The Northern Daily Leader yesterday that any horses trained by Cody Morgan have either been spelled or farmed out to other trainers, as of last week.

A spokesperson said Prussian Secret had been transferred to Jared Wehlow, a Rockhampton-based trainer.

Racing NSW says they’re expecting the results of samples taken during the raid on May 12 in the next seven days, before a stewards’ inquiry can be called.

Meanwhile, Strike Force Trentbridge is continuing its investigation into the local racing scene.

Yesterday, detectives spent another day talking to potential witnesses across the New England area.

“We’ve interviewed three or four people today and there will be more tomorrow,” Detective Inspector Walpole said.

They will interview people in Tamworth, Armidale and Port 

Macquarie.

Detective Inspector Walpole said further people could be charged as more information came to hand.

“There are a lot of people that are very angry with these people, and the allegations that have been made against them,” Detective Inspector Walpole said.

“We’ve got a lot of information coming forward.”

“We would like to talk to anyone that has information regarding the racing industry as a whole.”