Queensland harness racing identity to face match fixing charges

Ben Dorries - Tuesday October 3

Queensland harness driver-trainer Barton Cockburn will face a Brisbane court on Wednesday on match fixing charges.

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Cockburn was one of three people charged with match fixing offences in April following what Queensland Racing Crime Squad detectives said was "an investigation into systemic match fixing in the harness racing industry."

Cockburn faces two counts of facilitating match fixing conduct under section 443B of the Queensland Criminal Code and one count of using or disclosing knowledge of match fixing conduct under section 443D.

Both charges carry a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

Cockburn, 28, from Limestone Ridges, is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.

Cockburn is one of the top 10 drivers in south-east Queensland and won more than $870,000 prizemoney for connections over the 2015-16 premiership season.

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