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Please be advised of the following welfare inquiries that have recently been completed by Racing NSW Stewards.

1. Ballesteros – Injury and subsequent euthanasia (Stewards report here)

On Tuesday 14 January 2020, Racing NSW Stewards conducted an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding an injury sustained by Ballesteros trained by licensed trainer Mr Paul Robbins, which resulted in the horse being euthanaised on 19 October 2019. The following charges and penalties were issued.

Trainer Mr Paul Robbins - pleaded guilty to a charge under AR231(1)(b)(iii) for failing to provided veterinary treatment to the horse where such treatment is necessary during the period 9 October 2019 to 19 October 2019. Mr Robbins was disqualified for a period of 12 months (18 months reduced to 12 months for guilty plea, co-operation with Stewards and good record)

Foreperson Mrs Susan Robbins pleaded guilty to a charge under AR227(b) for being a party to Mr Robbins breaching AR231(1)(b)(iii) for failing to provided veterinary treatment to the horse where such treatment is necessary during the period 9 October 2019 to 19 October 2019. Mrs Robbins was disqualified for a period of 12 months (12 months reduced to 8 months for guilty plea, co-operation with Stewards and good record)

Both Mr and Mrs Robbins have lodged appeals to the Racing NSW Appeal Panel.

2. Snippet Assured – Breach of LR114(5)(e) (Stewards Report here)

On Wednesday 15 January 2020, Racing NSW Stewards conducted an inquiry into a report that the racehorse Snippet Assured had been disposed of at a knackery. The following charges and penalties were issued.

Trainer Mr Ian Symons – pleaded guilty to a charge under LR114(5)(e) in that once a decision was made to retire the racehorse Snippet Assured, he did during the month of August 2018, directly transport Snippet Assured to a knackery to be disposed of. Mr Symons was disqualified for a period of 2 years reduced to 18 months for his guilty plea.

Stablehand Ms Rachel Wotzlaw – pleaded guilty to a charge of improper conduct under AR228(b) in that she did deliberately and improperly provide information on 8th October 2018 to lessees of the racehorse Snippet Assured via Facebook Messenger, that Snippet Assured had been rehomed in retirement when she knew at that time that Snippet Assured had been delivered to a knackery to be disposed of. Ms Wotzlaw was disqualified for a period of 6 months reduced to 4 months for her guilty plea.

3. Sandaney – Catastrophic Injury and subsequent euthanasia (Stewards report here)

Racing NSW Stewards on 20 January 2020 conducted an inquiry into the collapse and catastrophic injury sustained by Sandaney at Warwick Farm trackwork on 30 December 2019, that resulted in the gelding being euthanaised on that morning.

Stablehand Rider Mr Patrick Shanahan – pleaded guilty to a charge under AR231(1)(a) in that he committed an act of cruelty on the morning of 30 December 2019 in that he rode Sandaney in a manner that contributed in Sandaney collapsing and sustaining fractures to both foreleg sesamoids and subsequently being euthanaised. Mr Shanahan was disqualified for a period of 18 months reduced to 13-1/2 months for his guilty plea. In assessing penalty Stewards found his actions contributed to the injury being sustained by the gelding. Mr Shanahan was also fined the sum of $500 under AR132(1) for using a whip not approved by Racing Australia.