Pacing's fate to be decided

The future of pacing in Albany this season will likely be decided in the next fortnight, after a fiery meeting between the Albany Harness Racing Club and Racing and Wagering WA in Perth on Monday.

The club's new committee, who were appointed in October at the club's annual general meeting, including president Jim Swann, met with RWWA chief executive Richard Burt and integrity general manager Denis Borovica to push the club's case for relicensing.

Last Thursday, RWWA's Integrity Assurance Committee released a statement outlining its decision to keep the club's licence suspended, which was stripped last month after a show cause notice was issued by the IAC.

In September, the IAC found the club in breach of two rules of harness racing relating to a person "behaving detrimental to the industry" and "assisting in improper practices" from a report by Mr Borovica.

RWWA said last week it had considered information received by the committee, but it was "unclear" the new committee had been validly appointed and had acted within the club's constitution.

Mr Borovica said yesterday RWWA would wait on the AHRC to provide the requested information surrounding its committee before the independent IAC would make a decision on if the club would receive its licence back.

"The meeting, I thought, was a good one as it was able to clarify the requirements we would be looking for in order for consideration to be given to relicensing, so it was left with the representatives of the club to go away and obtain those details we were requesting and provide that for our further considerations," he said.

"I think they were clear as to what was required and indicated they could provide that fairly shortly and it can be considered by our IAC.

"We are all trying to get a situation where pacing can resume in Albany as scheduled.

"In a couple of weeks at the latest, we would know pretty clearly what is happening."

Albany Harness Racing Club president Jim Swann said the meeting was a positive one for the season going ahead.

"I am comfortable and confident we will have a racing season starting December 20," he said.