A Tasmanian court has heard claims that “nobody in racing has workers’ compensation insurance” during proceedings involving prominent harness trainer Ben Yole’s racing operation. The case centres on Ben Yole Racing Pty Ltd, which has pleaded guilty to failing to maintain mandatory workers’ compensation insurance between July 2022 and December 2023. Prosecutors are seeking a $90,000 penalty and repayment of more than $62,000 to a nominal insurer that covered staff during the uninsured period. The court heard the issue was only uncovered after a serious crash in January 2023 that injured workers and led to multiple horse deaths. The defence argued the lack of insurance reflected broader industry practices, raising questions about regulatory oversight in the racing sector.