from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — The State of Michigan Office of Racing Commissioner has issued a ruling regarding the suspension of driver Kevin Wallis, which reads:

Mr. Wallis’ 2010 Occupational License is suspended immediately through and including December 31, 2010. Mr. Wallis is deemed a disqualified person and is excluded from the grounds of all Michigan pari-mutuel race tracks, both live and simulcast, under the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s jurisdiction. All horses owned or trained by Mr. Wallis are ineligible to participate during this time. Any transfer of horses must be approved by Michigan Stewards prior to entry.

The MGCB conducted a stewards’ administrative investigative hearing on June 22, 2010, at the Michigan Gaming Control Board office located at 3062 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, Michigan, to investigate possible race fixing violations. While under oath, Mr. Wallis provided false and misleading statements to the stewards’ questions. Specifically, Mr. Wallis denied accepting money for his participation in race fixing, and also denied that he ever gave money to other drivers for their participation in race fixing. These responses contradicted the transcripts generated from three separate interviews of other drivers. In those interviews, the other drivers admitted to accepting money in exchange for their participation in fixing races, and also implicated Mr. Wallis as someone who both received money and paid other drivers for their participation in race fixing.

Mr. Wallis’ admissions also constitute a violation of R431.1130. In particular, Mr. Wallis received things of value (i.e. liquor and cigars) for providing information to a gambler named Saleh Summa, and influencing nine races in which Mr. Wallis participated. This practice is known as “touting,” in violation of R431.1125, and is evidenced by the Stewards’ review of cell phone records, race charts and video replays, tote betting records, and W2G’s for nine races conducted at Hazel Park Harness Raceway in 2008 and 2009. Mr. Wallis also violated R431.115 by not immediately reporting an “offer or promise of a gratuity” or “request or suggestion of a bribe” to the Stewards or MGCB.

Finally, Mr. Wallis failed to produce all bank records for calendar years 2008 and 2009 as requested in the May 10, 2010 MGCB summons served by the Florida Racing Commission, and the second summons issued to Mr. Wallis on June 2, 2010 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. By failing to produce all of these documents at the time of the Stewards’ Hearing, Mr. Wallis has failed to comply with the conditions precedent for occupational licensing in Michigan as outlined in R431.1035.

The above order, signed by the Board of Stewards, was dated July 2, 2010.