After 12 months hanging on, racing boss finally stood down over sex assault claims
Albion Harness Racing Club has stood down its CEO Scott Steele, nearly 12 months since it was first ordered to take action after rape allegations were levelled at the senior executive.
Scott Steele has stood down from his role as CEO of Queensland Harness Racing.
The sport’s governing body Racing Queensland announced the 52 year old would be relieved of his post at Queensland’s biggest metropolitan harness racing club, bringing a swift response from Racing Minister Grace Grace.
“I welcome the news that Albion Park Harness Racing Club have finally agreed to follow the direction issued by Racing Queensland to stand down their CEO,” Grace said in a statement.
“I have been very clear that I thought it was completely unacceptable for Mr Steele to remain in post while facing such serious charges, but as minister I do not have the power to stand down staff members of private racing clubs.
“It’s disappointing it took this long – the first direction from RQ was issued to the club in September 2021 – but I am glad the right thing is happening now.”
Steele is committed to stand trial in the District Court charged with one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault.
Police will allege he was working at a sports club when he sexually assaulted two women aged in their 20s on two separate dates in April 2015 and December 2016, occurring before he was appointed to the top job at Albion in May 2020.
It is understood one of the alleged incidents occurred at a Christmas party.
The allegations surrounding Steele’s conduct first came to light late last year.
His name was initially withheld from media reports, but the allegations prompted Racing Queensland to order his removal, once in September and again in November, which Albion Park Harness Racing Club refused.
The club challenged the validity of Racing Queensland’s direction in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal in March, with the matter still under consideration.
Grace called the club’s stubborn refusal “inappropriate, while Shadow Racing Minister Tim Mander described it as a “puzzling decision”.
Steele has a long family history in Queensland racing. He is a former operations manager at Doomben and Eagle Farm race clubs, while his father was a prominent bookmaker.
His brother Brad Steele is the current chair of the Albion Park Harness Racing Club.
