Liam Birchley, one of the trainers involved in the Aquanita Racing scandal, has been asked by the Racing NSW Stewards to show cause, reported Racenet.com.au on Monday. Birchley, who faces charges relating to the improper race day treatment of horses in Victoria, previously agreed to not race horses in Victoria, while Racing Queenesland stewards have no issue with him training in their territory. Other former Aquanita Racing conditioners Robert Smerdon and Stuart Webb both stood down voluntarily, while Tony Vasil is training under the agreement that prizemoney won by horses under his care is frozen until the end of the case.
“Having regard to the brief of evidence and the responsibility of Racing NSW to protect the image, interests and integrity of racing, Racing NSW Stewards have required Mr. Birchley to show cause as to why the provisions of AR50 should not be invoked against him in respect of declining to receive or reject the nominations of horses trained by Mr. Birchley for races in New South Wales,” Racing NSW Chairman Marc Van Gestel said in a statement on Monday. “Mr. Birchley has indicated to Racing NSW Stewards that he will provide submissions in response to the show cause notice shortly, at which time Stewards shall give full consideration to the matter.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
