Racing: Committeemen found guilty

Five members of the Stratford Racing Club 2002 committee have been found guilty by a judicial tribunal of acting detrimentally to the interests of racing by the mass blackballing of prospective club members.

The members include former New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing board member Dr Murray Blue and 2002 club president Len Caskey. Also guilty are James Gilbert, Wayne Hart and Brian Needham.

Penalties have yet to be handed down, but the decision is another step towards finality over a messy situation at the Stratford club going back to 2002.

The decision by a Judicial Control Authority tribunal follows a High Court ruling that the club had acted unlawfully in blackballing prospective members and blocking former Stratford District Council chief executive Kemp Broughton's nomination for president.

The tribunal was told the committee had blackballed 59 candidates for club membership at two meetings in August and September 2002.

The prospective members were mostly members of a group concerned with the management of the club.

The High Court found the club's transfer of its $3.4 million racecourse into a trust was invalid.

- NZPA