One of the most bewildering stories in sport – the one involving a retired Rugby League legend, a brothel owner and two of the most iconic names in Australian horse racing – has today ended in charges for trainer Gai Waterhouse and owner John Singleton. Singleton entered a guilty plea, admitting to conduct prejudicial to the image, interest and welfare of racing.
“My actions were inappropriate and regrettable,” Singleton said. “That’s
why I pleaded guilty. In my 40 years of being a registered horse owner,
this is my first steward’s inquiry and hopefully my last.”
He was fined $15,000.
In contrast, Waterhouse continued to maintain her innocence.
The trained entered a not guilty plea but was laid with two charges: failing to report to stewards any condition or occurrence that may affect the running of a horse in a race and for failing to keep a record of treatments administered to a horse.
“I was not trying to hide anything,” Waterhouse said.
The inquiry was initially sparked after Waterhouse and Singleton were seen engaged in a heated argument following the running of the All Aged Stakes on Saturday, April 27 in which the hotly tipped More Joyous ran second last after Waterhouse failed to inform stewards of a potential neck injury which may have affected the outcome of the race.
Photo by Mark Kolbe for Getty Images Sport
