Latest news with #AustralianRulesofRacing
The Australian
29-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
John Leek Jr probed over The Storyteller tubing allegation
Racing Victoria stewards are investigating Pakenham trainer John Leek Jr in relation to alleged race day treatment of a horse, The Storyteller. The Storyteller was scratched by Order of Stewards last Thursday from a 3100m Benchmark 70 at Warrnambool after Leek Jnr was intercepted roadside en route to the track. Race day stewards opened and adjourned an inquiry into the 'circumstances surrounding the late scratching' of The Storyteller, a $4.40 chance at the time in pre-race markets. Racing Victoria (RV) has confirmed The Storyteller-Leek Jnr investigation remains ongoing. Leek Jnr politely declined to comment on the stewards' inquiry and allegations when contacted by this masthead on Tuesday, in respect of the 'ongoing investigation'. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! This masthead established RV investigative and intelligence unit stewards, Compliance Assurance Team (CAT), approached Leek Jnr parked roadside near Terang last Thursday. Leek Jnr was allegedly found in possession of equipment which could be used for stomach-tubing the horse. This masthead understands roadside comments from Leek Jnr form part of the stewards' evidence. The CAT stewards wear police-style standard body cameras during integrity operations. This masthead does not suggest Leek Jnr is guilty of any alleged breach, only that RV stewards are investigating an event roadside, which led to an ordered withdrawal of The Storyteller last Thursday. • Blackbookers: Horses to follow during the depths of winter RV would not be drawn on whether the CAT team targeted Leek Jnr specifically, as part of a regular covert surveillance operations, or coincidently drove past the parked horse float at the opportune time. The CAT stewards conduct random and targeted investigations to uphold Victorian racing integrity. Under Australian Rules of Racing (AR255) stomach-tubing or being involved in such activity is banned on the day of a race, trial or jumpout, without stewards' permission. The process involves a tube being fed through a horse's nose, down the throat and into the stomach, to administer sodium-bicarbonate dissolved in water. The 'milkshake' is said to reduce lactic acid and help a horse run further with less fatigue. A minimum 12-month disqualification is mandatory, in absence of special circumstances, if a person is found guilty of 'stomach-tubing or attempted stomach-tubing' on race day or one clear day prior. The Storyteller has an acceptance to race in a 2238m Benchmark 64 on Thursday at Sale. The four-year-old Roc De Cambes gelding, purchased for $25,000 out of an online sale in late April, has won three of five starts and more than $60,000 prizemoney for part-owner Leek Jnr and connections since the digital auction. Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
The Australian
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Australian
Jockey Will Gordon to face Victorian Racing Tribunal
Jockey Will Gordon will face the Victorian Racing Tribunal on racehorse ownership charges. Gordon breached Australian Rules of Racing with the purchase of a Doubtland filly in March on behalf of partner, licensed person and pre-trainer Taige Weir. Gordon registered as purchaser, successfully bid and paid the $20,050 required for the yearling. Weir, an aspiring trainer and daughter of Melbourne Cup-winning disqualified trainer Darren Weir, had limited finances at the time to complete the transaction, so Gordon agreed to foot the bill. Under AR 116, a jockey is not permitted to own, take a lease or have any interest in an unnamed or named racehorse. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Gordon faced two charges – interest in a horse and the alternative, interest in a horse transaction. He pleaded guilty to the second charge at the earliest opportunity. Barrister Damian Sheales on behalf of Gordon submitted a 'no case to answer' application before the VRT in relation to Charge 1 – interest in horse. It is alleged Gordon had ownership of the Doubtland filly from March 4-25. His interest did not extend beyond March 25. The tribunal heard submissions Gordon only acted as the agent for Weir and never acquired ownership of the filly, or had an actual interest in it. 'We are of the view that those are factors that constitute the basis of an unanswerable Charge,' the VRT ruled. 'They could be summarised as being those involving Mr Gordon registering as a prospective purchaser, making the successful bid at the auction and paying for the horse. 'Of course, we are assessing such factors in the context of a 'no case to answer' dispute. The situation in relation to a full contest, with the stewards bearing the burden of proof, could well be different. 'In summary, Mr Gordon does have a case to answer on Charge 1.' Gordon will face a VRT hearing on a date to be fixed. Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
Herald Sun
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
John Leek Jr probed over The Storyteller tubing allegation
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Racing Victoria stewards are investigating Pakenham trainer John Leek Jr in relation to alleged race day treatment of a horse, The Storyteller. The Storyteller was scratched by Order of Stewards last Thursday from a 3100m Benchmark 70 at Warrnambool after Leek Jnr was intercepted roadside en route to the track. Race day stewards opened and adjourned an inquiry into the 'circumstances surrounding the late scratching' of The Storyteller, a $4.40 chance at the time in pre-race markets. Racing Victoria (RV) has confirmed The Storyteller-Leek Jnr investigation remains ongoing. Leek Jnr politely declined to comment on the stewards' inquiry and allegations when contacted by this masthead on Tuesday, in respect of the 'ongoing investigation'. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! This masthead established RV investigative and intelligence unit stewards, Compliance Assurance Team (CAT), approached Leek Jnr parked roadside near Terang last Thursday. Leek Jnr was allegedly found in possession of equipment which could be used for stomach-tubing the horse. This masthead understands roadside comments from Leek Jnr form part of the stewards' evidence. The CAT stewards wear police-style standard body cameras during integrity operations. This masthead does not suggest Leek Jnr is guilty of any alleged breach, only that RV stewards are investigating an event roadside, which led to an ordered withdrawal of The Storyteller last Thursday. • Blackbookers: Horses to follow during the depths of winter RV would not be drawn on whether the CAT team targeted Leek Jnr specifically, as part of a regular covert surveillance operations, or coincidently drove past the parked horse float at the opportune time. The CAT stewards conduct random and targeted investigations to uphold Victorian racing integrity. Under Australian Rules of Racing (AR255) stomach-tubing or being involved in such activity is banned on the day of a race, trial or jumpout, without stewards' permission. The process involves a tube being fed through a horse's nose, down the throat and into the stomach, to administer sodium-bicarbonate dissolved in water. The 'milkshake' is said to reduce lactic acid and help a horse run further with less fatigue. A minimum 12-month disqualification is mandatory, in absence of special circumstances, if a person is found guilty of 'stomach-tubing or attempted stomach-tubing' on race day or one clear day prior. The Storyteller has an acceptance to race in a 2238m Benchmark 64 on Thursday at Sale. The four-year-old Roc De Cambes gelding, purchased for $25,000 out of an online sale in late April, has won three of five starts and more than $60,000 prizemoney for part-owner Leek Jnr and connections since the digital auction. Originally published as Racing Victoria stewards probe The Storyteller stomach-tubing allegation against Pakenham trainer John Leek Jr
News.com.au
23-04-2025
- News.com.au
Queensland Racing Integrity Commission lawyer says video ‘crystal clear' on animal cruelty allegation against Chris Wearne
A lawyer acting for the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission says the video footage is 'crystal clear' showing Rockhampton trackwork rider Chris Wearne striking a horse with a lead rope and a wooden twitch seven times. Wearne has pleaded guilty to a charge under section AR 231 of the Australian Rules of Racing which prohibits a person from committing an act of cruelty to a horse but he is appealing the stewards' decision to ban him for 16 months. Scott McLeod KC, representing QRIC, argued that the 16-month disqualification from the alleged incident, which occurred in September 2021 when Wearne was working for trainer Paul Butterworth, should stand. Stewards allege that while trying to groom Menari Magic, the mare bit Wearne on the arm before rearing up, striking Wearne on the forearm. Wearne is accused of then striking Menari Magic with a lead rope five times and twice with a wooden twitch in the head region. The video footage of the alleged incident was recently sent anonymously to QRIC by a member of the public. 'The video speaks for itself, it is crystal clear,' McLeod said. 'After one of the stewards outlined some matters with him, Mr Wearne said 'I'm comfortable to keep going now, I may as well'. 'He says 'there's not much else to say, it's all there on the video, what's done is done'. 'There's no misapprehension, there was no unfairness in relation to the inquiry process and ultimately the nature of the charge that he pleaded guilty to. 'He was fully cognisant in my submission when you go through the transcript. Stewards couldn't have been fairer with respect to giving him the opportunity to give his explanation for what occurred as depicted on the video.' Barrister Katherine McGree, acting for Wearne, argued that her client 'was not informed of the true nature of the charge against him'. 'It is only after entering his guilty plea that Mr Wearne was told that the starting penalty for cruelty to a horse was disqualification for two years,' said McGree, who argued Wearne's guilty plea should be set aside. 'His plea of guilty simply cannot be understood to be an admission of all the elements of the charge because he was never probably informed of those elements.' McGree said there was no evidence of injury to the late mare Menari Magic, who last raced in Rockhampton in July, an argument McLeod later described as a 'red herring'. 'One can still be cruel to an animal without a physical injury appearing as a result of the act of cruelty,' McLeod said. 'I'd invite the panel in due course to revisit the footage to appreciate the conduct here in question and in particular the way the horse reacted when being struck by Mr Wearne.' McGree said her client was 'frustrated' at the time after struggling to control the horse. 'His strikes were intentional, that arises from his answer to the question that he meant every bit of it, to which he agreed, but he also said 'it could have been worse',' McGree said. 'It is not open to infer that Mr Wearne intended to inflict serious injury or pain on the horse where his objective was to ready the horse to his employer's satisfaction for an imminent race. 'In short, the commission has failed to establish that the conduct reaches the threshold of cruelty. 'The particulars are insufficient, the evidence does not come up to proof. The charge ought to be dismissed.' The panel of Dianne Condon, Megan Brooks and Damien MacGinley adjourned to consider their decision on the penalty, which will be made before May 7.
The Australian
23-04-2025
- The Australian
Trackwork rider Chris Wearne accused of animal cruelty
A lawyer acting for the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission says the video footage is 'crystal clear' showing Rockhampton trackwork rider Chris Wearne striking a horse with a lead rope and a wooden twitch seven times. Wearne has pleaded guilty to a charge under section AR 231 of the Australian Rules of Racing which prohibits a person from committing an act of cruelty to a horse but he is appealing the stewards' decision to ban him for 16 months. Scott McLeod KC, representing QRIC, argued that the 16-month disqualification from the alleged incident, which occurred in September 2021 when Wearne was working for trainer Paul Butterworth, should stand. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Stewards allege that while trying to groom Menari Magic, the mare bit Wearne on the arm before rearing up, striking Wearne on the forearm. Wearne is accused of then striking Menari Magic with a lead rope five times and twice with a wooden twitch in the head region. The video footage of the alleged incident was recently sent anonymously to QRIC by a member of the public. 'The video speaks for itself, it is crystal clear,' McLeod said. 'After one of the stewards outlined some matters with him, Mr Wearne said 'I'm comfortable to keep going now, I may as well'. 'He says 'there's not much else to say, it's all there on the video, what's done is done'. 'There's no misapprehension, there was no unfairness in relation to the inquiry process and ultimately the nature of the charge that he pleaded guilty to. 'He was fully cognisant in my submission when you go through the transcript. Stewards couldn't have been fairer with respect to giving him the opportunity to give his explanation for what occurred as depicted on the video.' Barrister Katherine McGree, acting for Wearne, argued that her client 'was not informed of the true nature of the charge against him'. 'It is only after entering his guilty plea that Mr Wearne was told that the starting penalty for cruelty to a horse was disqualification for two years,' said McGree, who argued Wearne's guilty plea should be set aside. 'His plea of guilty simply cannot be understood to be an admission of all the elements of the charge because he was never probably informed of those elements.' McGree said there was no evidence of injury to the late mare Menari Magic, who last raced in Rockhampton in July, an argument McLeod later described as a 'red herring'. 'One can still be cruel to an animal without a physical injury appearing as a result of the act of cruelty,' McLeod said. 'I'd invite the panel in due course to revisit the footage to appreciate the conduct here in question and in particular the way the horse reacted when being struck by Mr Wearne.' McGree said her client was 'frustrated' at the time after struggling to control the horse. 'His strikes were intentional, that arises from his answer to the question that he meant every bit of it, to which he agreed, but he also said 'it could have been worse',' McGree said. 'It is not open to infer that Mr Wearne intended to inflict serious injury or pain on the horse where his objective was to ready the horse to his employer's satisfaction for an imminent race. 'In short, the commission has failed to establish that the conduct reaches the threshold of cruelty. 'The particulars are insufficient, the evidence does not come up to proof. The charge ought to be dismissed.' The panel of Dianne Condon, Megan Brooks and Damien MacGinley adjourned to consider their decision on the penalty, which will be made before May 7.
