Turf Club /Horse Trainers

Edward9

Hi,
My friend has found himself at a serious financial loss and does not know what to do...
Himself and 2 others formed a syndicate. He purchased a half share in a 4 year old racehorse. The other 2 people owning the remaining 50%...
The horse was put into training July 2012 with the instruction to the trainer that the horse was been put in his care for 3 months at which time an assessment would be done in relation to the ability of the horse but no assessment was ever given. An agent was appointed to deal with the trainer. The trainer was paid his fee's and outlays each month. In February 2013 the agent phoned the trainer looking to know was the horse going to run. The trainer then entered the horse in a point to point along with a bunch of horses all from his yard in the same race....When the agent saw this he phoned the trainer again but was told this time the horse would not be running as he was sick...Near 2 weeks later the trainer rang the agent and said take this horse out of here. The agent collected the horse and brought him to his own yard and noted straight away the horse was seriously sick. He called the vet straight away. The vet attended the horse daily for 3 weeks all at the syndicates expense. The vet told the agent the horse was rotten with a embedded virus... the horse failed to respond to treatment and died . The agent contacted the trainer told him the horse was dead and the trainer replied ''Well he didn't die in my yard''.... The agent asked the trainer why he did not call a vet when he knew the horse was sick.. the trainer replied by saying we also had other sick horses but they are fine.....
What happen was the trainer failed to look after the welfare of a horse that was put in his care and he got rid of the horse when he knew the horse was in serious trouble.... This was an animal welfare issue and my friend and partners have lost all their outlays , training fee's, veterinary fee's and the horse....
The trainer says he has no responsibility...
The agent has contacted the Turf Club and the turf Club are running and trying to cover up . They are in charge of integrity of racing so I suppose if they can cover it up some way its better than having an negligent trainer dealt with in public.....
My friend wants to know where to now and what more can he do. He has suffered massive losses and the powers that be wont act.
He is looking for advice on this situation...
ED

MadHorse

All I can say is that it is bad luck to lose a horse like this. It would be very difficult to prove trainer neglected horse as in giving him a virus (but he/she should have acted, if horse was becoming very poor). I'm involved in a number of horses and they don’t see the vet much (I think most yards overuse vets) If a horse is sick in most cases it can be treated by rest or treatment experienced trainers are familiar with. So I’m not totally shocked not vet was called but a si said if it gets very poor then action needs to be taken.

I would say your friend should have researched trainer better, I have and regularly see Cowboys claiming to be trainers. In relation to the advice you friend seeks, I don’t know really what he can do. He probably should have been more involved, it kind of sounds like trainer was milking him for a monthly fee and horse was left in field (but only an assumption as I know people that this has happened to and it's not that unusual)

Winning Ways Racing

This is a matter for your solicitor rather than the Turf Club/HRI. If you can prove negligence on behalf of the trainer, then you may have a case. The horse was under the primary care of the trainer and if you have a vet that will give evidence of neglect leading to death, then you may have a case. But you have to approach a solicitor on this. You're wasting your time with the horse racing authorities as this is a civil matter and they simply won't deal with it, just as they won't deal with owners that don't pay trainers.