Horseman disqualified
Tasracing Integrity Unit and Christian Salter
Rules:
AHRR 238 – A person shall not fail to comply with any order, direction or requirement of HRA, the Controlling Body or the Stewards relating to harness racing or to the harness racing industry.
AHRR 239A – A person whose conduct or negligence has led or could lead to a breach of the rules is guilty of an offence.
AHRR 159B (1)(a)(i) – When driving or riding a horse, the driver must wear a properly affixed safety vest.
AHRR 187(2) – A person shall not refuse to answer questions or to produce a horse, document, substance or piece of equipment, or give false and misleading evidence or information at an inquiry or investigation.
AHRR 231(2) – A person shall not misconduct himself in any way.
Charge:
Christian Salter was at all relevant times a harness trainer and driver licensed by Tasracing and a person bound by the Australian Harness Racing Rules.
- Mr Salter failed to comply with a direction issued by Stewards on 9 August 2026 to provide his safety vest to stewards for examination at the next race meeting, that being 16 August 2026.
- Mr Salter failed to comply with a direction issued by Stewards on 20 September 2026 to bring his safety vest to the stewards’ room ‘following the next race’ for inspection by stewards.
- Mr Salter engaged in negligent conduct for a period between 24 November 2025 and 8 August 2026 when he repeatedly drove in trials, races and during trackwork wearing a damaged and modified and/or unsuitable safety vest.
- Mr Salter provided false and misleading evidence to the stewards when he stated he wore a safety vest while driving in Race 1 at the Hobart harness meeting on 9 August 2026, when CCTV footage conclusively established Mr Salter did not wear a safety vest.
- Mr Salter failed to wear a safety vest while driving in Race 1 and Race 2 at the Hobart harness meeting on 9 August 2026.
- Mr Salter did misconduct himself during a stewards’ inquiry on 20 September 2026.
Plea:
To charge 1 – Guilty
To charge 2 – Guilty
To charge 3 – Not Guilty but found guilty by the stewards
To charge 4 – Guilty
To charge 5 – Guilty
To charge 6 – Guilty
Penalties:
1. Disqualification of licences for 3 months
2. Disqualification of licences for 3 months
3. Disqualification of licences for 6 months
4. Disqualification of licences for 6 months
5. Fine of $300 for each offence. Total $600
6. Fine of $500
Stewards made the following orders under AHRR 257: Penalty for charges 1, 2, 3 and 4 to be served cumulatively. This results in a combined period of disqualification of 18 months.
Decision:
- Mr. Salter was at all relevant times a licenced harness trainer and driver.
- On 9 November 2025, during an inspection of all drivers’ helmets and safety vests by stewards at the Hobart harness meeting, Mr Salter was advised his Vipa safety vest was non-compliant as it was broken and had been modified and was to be replaced.
- On 9 August 2026 during a stewards’ inquiry into whether Mr Salter wore a safety vest while driving in Races 1 and 2 at the Hobart harness meeting, Mr Salter was given a direction to provide his safety vest to stewards for examination at the next race meeting which was 16 August 2026. On 16 August 2026, Mr Salter failed to provide his vest to stewards.
- On 20 September 2026 during a stewards’ inquiry stewards confiscated Mr Salter’s Airowear vest as it was unsuitable. Mr Salter was given a direction to obtain an alternate vest and bring it to the stewards’ room for examination by stewards following the next race. Mr Salter failed to return to the stewards’ room with the alternate vest as directed.
- For the period 24 November 2025 to 8 August 2026, Mr Salter engaged in negligent conduct by completely disregarding a known and documented defect with his Vipa safety vest and continued to wear that vest in races, trials and during trackwork. Mr Salter also wore his unsuitable Airowear vest during this period. By competing in races and trackwork with a defective and modified vest, or an unsuitable vest he exposed himself, other drivers, track officials and horses to an elevated and entirely preventable risk of injury.
- On 9 August 2026 Mr Salter provided false and misleading evidence during a stewards’ inquiry when he stated he wore a vest in Race 1 at the Hobart harness meeting on 9 August 2026, when CCTV footage showed he did not wear a vest. Mr Salter knew this evidence was false at the time it was given, thereby deliberately misleading and impeding the stewards in the course of their regulatory duties.
- On 9 August 2026, Mr Salter drove in Race 1 and Race 2 at the Hobart harness meeting without wearing a safety vest.
- During a stewards’ inquiry on 20 September 2026 Mr Salter misconducted himself when his conduct was obstructive, disrespectful, and defiant resulting in Mr Salter being directed on two occasions to leave the stewards room.
In arriving at Penalty, the Decision Makers considered all available evidence including:
- Mr Salters guilty and not guilty pleas
- Mr Salter’s prior disciplinary history within the industry.
- The oral submissions and personal circumstances presented by Mr Salter.
- The prolonged nature of the non-compliance: While the initial issue involved a broken and modified safety vest, this was overshadowed by Mr Salter’s subsequent conduct. For approximately nine months, he continued to wear either the damaged, modified vest or an otherwise unsuitable vest. This overriding aggravating factor substantially outweighs any mitigating circumstances.
- The provision of false evidence: Deliberately misleading an official inquiry and providing false evidence severely impedes stewards in the course of their duties.
- The failure to comply with a stewards’ direction: Flouting a direct order is an egregious violation that directly undermines the integrity and regulatory framework of the harness racing industry.
- The need for deterrence: The penalty imposed must serve as a specific deterrent to Mr Salter and a robust general deterrent to the wider industry.
Mr Salter was advised of his rights of appeal.
- TASRACING Media