Operation Inca: Man drugged horse to fix race, police allege

Operation Inca: Man drugged horse to fix race, police allege
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New charges have been laid from Operation Inca - the police investigation into the harness racing industry - including the alleged drugging of a horse.

The man charged over that offence - a driver in his 50s - appeared for the first time in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.

He has been charged with conspiring with another to fix a race at a meeting earlier this year.

He allegedly administered a substance to a horse, so it could gain an advantage at the race. 

In total, 12 new charges, alleging race fixing and drug transactions, were laid against nine people on Wednesday. 

Some cases are remanded without plea, but many of the accused have entered not-guilty pleas and have elected trial by jury. 

The cases going to trial are remanded to March 25 for a case review hearing.

Thirteen people are caught up in the Operation Inca investigation. Police first revealed they were investigating alleged race-fixing within the harness racing industry in September. 

Newshub.