Life ban and record fines for trainer found guilty of ill-treatment
Media Release - Monday June 17, 2024
LIFE BAN AND RECORD FINES FOR TRAINER FOUND GUILTY OF ILL-TREATMENT OF GREYHOUNDS
Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) has disqualified trainer Tony Rasmussen for life following a final determination made by the industry’s independent Integrity Hearings Panel (IHP) today.
In July 2023, the training licenses and registrations of Mr Tony Rasmussen and Mrs Lisa Rasmussen were suspended with immediate effect following the broadcast of disturbing vision by several media channels. The training premises were also immediately de-registered. GRSA stewards promptly opened an investigation and analysed the vision, laying serious charges under the Greyhounds Australasia Rules and Local Rules of racing within 48 hours.
The matter has now been heard by the IHP which is an independent body convened by GRSA with the responsibility for investigating charges raised by stewards and determining appropriate penalties if charges are proven.
At an IHP hearing on 7 June, Mr Rasmussen entered a not guilty plea to all 11 charges against him:
• Ill-treatment of a greyhound (eight separate counts)
• Fail to exercise care and supervision of a greyhound to prevent pain or suffering
• Cause or permit on premises a condition dangerous to health, welfare or safety of a greyhound
• Conduct detrimental to the interest, welfare, image, control or promotion of greyhound racing.
A subsequent meeting on 11 June saw the IHP determine a guilty verdict on all eleven charges. Today, the IHP determined penalties for those charges, imposing a life disqualification and $20,000 fine for each offence, cumulatively fining $220,000. This is the most significant penalty ever delivered in South Australian racing.
The IHP also made a final determination on charges against Mrs Lisa Rasmussen. At the 7 June meeting, Mrs Rasmussen pled guilty to three charges:
• Fail to exercise care and supervision of a greyhound to prevent pain or suffering
• Cause or permit on premises a condition dangerous to health, welfare or safety of a greyhound
• Conduct detrimental to the interest, welfare, image, control or promotion of greyhound racing.
A charge of ill-treatment of a greyhound against Mrs Rasmussen was withdrawn by Stewards under local rule 116 (7) as it was determined based on the evidence at hand that there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction being secured.
The IHP delivered a penalty of five years three months disqualification, one $10,000 and two $5000 fines for each of the three charges against her, resulting in a cumulative 15-year, 1-month 8-day disqualification (allowing for time served) and total of $20,000 in fines.
Registered persons who are disqualified are not permitted to own or train any registered greyhound for the period of the disqualification, and they also have their registration automatically cancelled.
Further, other registered persons are not permitted to associate with a disqualified person, for any purpose connected with greyhound racing. This applies to all states in Australia as well as New Zealand.
Further, no registered person is permitted to keep any of their own greyhounds at any premises of a disqualified person in South Australia.
Attributable to GRSA Chair Grantley Stevens:
“We welcome the decisions and strong penalties handed down by the independent Integrity Hearings Panel. This was a clear failure to uphold the standards and integrity we expect in our sport and there is no place for such appalling behaviour.”
Attributable to GRSA CEO Brenton Scott:
“We have zero tolerance for the mistreatment of greyhounds, and we are pleased with an outcome that very clearly underlines this position. Our focus remains on creating a strong industry that is well positioned for the future and we continue to progress against the recommendations handed down as part of the state government’s independent inquiry.”
The relevant Stewards’ Notice for this matter can be accessed on the GRSA website.
Please note, no further comment will be made at this time.