Moran to face stewards after betting against his drive

VICTORIAN reinsman David Moran is under investigation by Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) stewards after placing a bet on a horse he was driving against at Leeton on Friday night.

Moran is the stable driver for Leeton trainer Kim Hillier and drove Major Jules in the $10,000 Leeton Pacers Cup.

Stewards were informed prior to the race that a bet had been placed on another runner by a licensed driver.

A bet, described as small by HRNSW integrity manager Reid Sanders, was placed on Smo in the race.

The horse trained by Moran's partner Laura Crossland and finished second behind Business In Motion in the race.

Major Jules finished seventh.

Sanders said the TAB integrity unit notified stewards to the incident and the bet was cancelled when Moran arrived on track.

Investigators are still searching through Moran's betting records, in an attempt to see if this was a one-off event, but Sanders said it was matter being taken seriously be the stewards.

"Betting in a race is a serious matter, and we are looking at that bet," Sanders said.

"That bet wasn't backing his own runner which makes it more serious."

Moran is the leading driver in the South West and Riverina this season and has admitted the bet was stupid.

He said he a concreter at the stables who handed him $50 to have on the horse but didn't have time to place the bet before making his way to Leeton from Shepparton so he placed in on his phone.

"I never thought any of it and got done," Moran said.

"It was a bit unlucky really as very rarely do I bet on the trots. Never when I'm driving, but here and there if I'm not driving and sitting at home."

Moran is expecting to be disqualified, but is still free to drive and has four drives booked in at Wagga on Tuesday.

A date for the inquiry is expected to be later this month.

It comes on the back of a major police investigation in Victoria were a number of people have been questioned, five arrested and two charged over race fixing.