Harness racing money missing: former employee suspected
Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008 | 5:16 PM AT
CBC News
Harness Racing P.E.I. has called in Charlottetown police to investigate missing money, and a criminal investigation is now focused on a former employee.
Harness Racing P.E.I. started its own investigation after the resignation of an employee in late September. An independent audit showed some money was missing. Neither the police nor Harness Racing P.E.I. will say how much, but they say it is a substantial amount.
"It's a difficult time for all staff and employees," Lee Drake, director of marketing and promotions for Harness Racing P.E.I., told CBC News on Friday.
"We have a business to run and we're confident that the proper steps and procedures were taken, and we feel the authorities have all the information that they need, and that they'll get to the bottom of the matter."
Millions in betting money
Harness Racing P.E.I., funded in part by the province, puts on race cards at the Charlottetown Driving Park and Summerside Raceway, including the Governor's Plate and the Gold Cup and Saucer. It handles $5 million to $6 million a year in local betting, and an additional amount in simulcast racing bets.
The group said it will hand over the audited financial records to police.
"We have now entered into a criminal investigation," said Deputy Chief Richard Collins.
"Harness Racing P.E.I. will be providing us with updated financial statements that have been audited, and in turn once they're turned over to us, we will do a review of those statements ourselves and the audit."
A decision on charges will wait until that review is done. That could take several weeks or months, depending on how far back the audit goes, police said.
