Two former Australian Turf Club officials have had their disqualifications for betting offences considerably reduced on appeal.
Shaun Lyall was originally outed for two years but will now serve nine months while Murray Conallin had an 18-month ban reduced to six.
Lyall and Conallin both lost their permanent jobs with the ATC after they were disqualified in November for the offences which took place when they were acting in an official capacity in the judge’s box on race days.
Over a 12 month period, Lyall was found to have placed 291 bets on races while Conallin made 71 bets over 20 months.
The Racing NSW appeal panel said the offences were serious but took into account the loss of employment which it said was a “significant penalty in itself which to a large extent satisfies the punishment component of the penalties”.
Conallin’s ban will now end on May 12, 2015 while Lyall’s penalty ends on August 10.
