Integrity Matters gained great attention in informing and engaging through the Harness Racer and, post the magazine's publishing, I am looking forward to continuing that conversation through Victoria's home of harness racing, thetrots.com.au.

I would like to thank all those have who participated in ‘Integrity Matters’ throughout 2019 and look forward to continuing that important communication in 2020.

The year's end is always an opportunity for reflection and I would like to congratulate all winners who received awards at the Gordon Rothacker Medal Night. It was a great event and Robert ‘Ginger’ Gleeson was a worthy recipient of the prestigious Gordon Rothacker Medal.

Former Queensland and Victorian Chairman of Stewards Rod Osborne received the Distinguished Service Award on the night.

Rod certainly had some interesting stories from his time in the harness racing, including the 1985 Inter Dominion and the circumstances surrounding the near scratching of favourite Preux Chevalier only moments before the Final at Moonee Valley in front of 40,000 people.

Rod has also talked about the death threat on his life when he was Chairman of Stewards in Victoria.

See below an excerpt from the National Trotting Weekly of July 5 1985 that shares some of that story.

I caught up with Mr Osborne to talk about his time in the trots.

How did you get involved in harness racing?

After leaving school, I had opportunities with some great trainers in Victoria and Tasmania and they also gave me the opportunity on a few drives. I was a freelance driver in Central Victoria with a lot of success at the time until it was put to me to apply for a position of Cadet Steward with Northern District Racing. They covered a lot of race meetings. My application was successful and during that time I gained an enormous amount of knowledge from some very successful stewards from the VRC and I was often sent to Melbourne to gain more knowledge and experience, which gave me a great chance to get back into harness racing.

What was your greatest night in harness racing?

I was very proud and shocked to recently win the Distinguished Medal Award at the Gordon Rothacker Awards night. It was a great honour and I couldn’t make it to the night, but I have seen some footage and it seemed like a great night. I am very proud of the award and I have shown it to my family and friends. Other highlights have been winning the first Central Victorian Championship with Miracle Echo in 1960, winning three races at Cobram when Helen Venture broke her hopple just after the start and still won, being invited back to Queensland to be in charge for the Inter Dominion,  chairing the Inter Dominion race meeting at Moonee Valley in 1985, winning races at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds in the thrill of the atmosphere, and making the right decision to start Preux Chavalier in the Inter Dominion when he won accordingly. It was an honour travelling with Judge Goram to unify the rules between the states and finishing my career as an adviser on appeals boards, including Harness Racing Victoria Racing and Appeals Disciplinary Board.

Tell us more about the background of the Inter Dominion final and Preux Chevalier at Moonee Valley in 1985?

Preux Chevalier had colic in the Moonee Valley parade ring on the night of the Inter Dominion final in 1985 and I was chairing the race meeting. The trainer, Barry Perkins, was upset, because he had Preux Chevalier, who was the short-priced favourite. Barry Gilbo, who was the veterinarian on the night, suggested that the horse should do a warm-up and we can make a decision whether the horse was to be passed fit. The horse did a warm-up, which appeared to assist with the stomach issues that he was suffering from, and Preux Chevalier then unloaded, releasing a very large amount of horse manure on to the racetrack. The warm up seemed to have had the desired effect and we passed the horse fit to race. It was obviously a very nervous couple of minutes in making that decision and seeing how the horse performed, but I guess the right decision was made in that the horse came out and won the Inter Dominion. There was also some discussion obviously about scratching the horse and I am glad we made the right decision for all connections and the industry, because the crowd that night at Moonee Valley experienced a great thrill. The crowd was around 40,000 people and it was such an amazing night. I am so proud that I had a role to play in such a special event in harness racing.

You were threatened with your life as well, tell us about that? 

At this time in 1985 I was still acting Chairman of Stewards when the Russell Street Police rang and told me to stay put as their informer had told them that there was a contract out on me. The detective came out to my home and sat in the house all night to keep the family safe until they could make some decisions. They were pretty confident in respect of the credibility of the information that they had received. We were put into hiding for two weeks so the detectives could sort things out, however, even after returning home after that period, they told me that I could not go to race meetings as there was a suggestion that I would be shot at from the stewards tower at a race meeting. I obviously stopped my job as soon as it started. I never did find out what were the events that led to the threat on my life and it did have an effect on the family for some time.

How have you seen integrity evolve from the early days when you commenced as a steward throughout your career, concluding at the HRV RAD Board in late 2019?

Employing female stewards and opening the doors to the media. Stewards also used to wear name tags so there was no excuse for disrespecting them. The use of latest technology and increased training and upskilling of stewards brings excellence to the industry. Increased confidence by some licenced persons to report matters and the ability to be anonymous, if they want to inform or notify authorities when matters are not right. Security at the stables before Group 1 races.  

What does integrity mean to you?

Having one set of rules for everyone, stewards leading by example, the public being made aware of all inquiries, including unfinished ones, and in some cases the reasons behind those decisions being made.

Stay tuned to the Integrity Matters section at thetrots.com.au for rolling updates and information.