Alleged Vic race-fixing investigated

Investigations into an alleged fixed harness race in country Victoria are continuing after police arrested four people.

The sporting integrity intelligence unit of Victoria police on Monday released two women and two men pending further inquiries after they were arrested at one of Australia's biggest harness race meetings on Sunday.

Harness Racing Victoria said the arrests at the Breeders Crown meeting were in relation to a Cobram race in June 2015.

Chairman Dale Monteith said HRV would consider suspending the racing licences of those arrested if charges are laid.

It's believed some of those arrested reside outside Victoria but travelled to Melton for the meeting on Sunday.

Mr Monteith said the integrity department was alerted to issues shortly after the Cobram meeting and began an investigation immediately before handing the matter to police in November.

"They were on to it pretty early but it took a while to convince themselves and after they did, they referred it to police," he told AAP.

"The board are delighted that action has occurred because we need to absolutely make it clear to all industry participants that we want a level playing field."

Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna says race fixing is rare in the state and there's nothing to suggest the issue is systemic.

"This (the arrests) shows that Harness Racing Victoria is on the ball," Mr Perna told AAP on Monday.

"They've picked up something that's suspicious and the system that's in place has worked. So from a lot of perspectives this is a positive."

Mr Perna said there had now been two instances of "this type of behaviour" in Victoria and both had been detected by the racing bodies.

"Both have been successfully handled," he said.

"The relationship we've got with Victoria Police is a very strong one and they've been able to come in, in both instances, so we think we're doing OK."

Celebrated Mildura trainer Shayne Cramp fixed the outcome of a race in late 2014 with his father Greg Cramp in order to win a bet.

After pleading guilty both were sentenced in September 2015 to community service and banned from any involvement in harness racing for a decade.

Victoria Police is the only force in Australia with a specialist sporting integrity squad although NSW Police has a casino and racing investigation unit.