Brisbane thoroughbred trainer guilty of animal cruelty

28 March 2023

Brisbane thoroughbred trainer Desleigh Forster has been found guilty of committing an act of cruelty to a horse, at an Eagle Farm training facility last month.

In a Queensland Racing Integrity Commission steward’s inquiry yesterday, Ms Forster pleaded guilty to possessing and using a stockwhip, which is capable of inflicting cruelty to a horse.

Ms Forster was found guilty of striking thoroughbred Private Banker with a stockwhip numerous times to encourage it to enter a training pool.

Under the Australian Rules of Racing the possession and use of a stockwhip has been banned since 2009.

Stewards will hand down their penalty this Friday, 31 March.

For background

Charge 1.

AR 133 Possession of stockwhip

A person must not have in his or her possession a stockwhip:
(a) at a racecourse;

Charge One

  • On 23 February 2023, Ms Forster as a licensed trainer with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, entered the equine pool facility at the Eagle Farm Racecourse with the registered thoroughbred PRIVATE BANKER and in possession of a stockwhip for the purpose of training.
  • Ms Forster’s conduct, in possessing a stockwhip, was in contravention of AR 133.

Charge 2.

AR 231 Care and welfare of horses

  • A person must not:
    (a) Commit or commission an act of cruelty to a horse, or be in possession of any article or thing which, in the opinion of the Stewards, is capable of inflicting cruelty to a horse.

Charge Two

  • On 23 February 2023, Ms Forster as a licensed trainer with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, entered the equine pool facility at the Eagle Farm racecourse with the registered thoroughbred PRIVATE BANKER for the purpose of training.
  • Ms Forster conduct at the equine pool facility, including striking PRIVATE BANKER numerous times, amounted to an act of cruelty to the horse and was in contravention of AR 231(1)(a).

Charge 3.

AR 231 Care and welfare of horses

(4) A person must not use a stockwhip on a horse in any circumstances relating to racing, training or pre-training, regardless whether the horse is registered. 

Charge Three

  • On 23 February 2023, Ms Forster as a licensed trainer with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, entered the equine pool facility at the Eagle Farm Racecourse with registered thoroughbred PRIVATE BANKER and in possession of a stockwhip for the purpose of training.
  • Ms Forster’s conduct, in using a stockwhip to encourage PRIVATE BANKER to enter the equine pool, was in contravention of AR 231(4).

ENDS.

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