Investigation rules in favour of Goodrich

AN independent investigation has found Kilmore Racing Club’s suspension of trainer Kate Goodrich “flawed and unjustified”.

Racing Victoria issued a statement on Goodrich, who has been embroiled in a two-and-a-half-year dispute with the KRC. The KRC told Goodrich in August 2013 that she was unable to train her small team of horse from Kilmore. She and partner Jon Hassall were forced to float their horses to Seymour to train them.

The matter was sparked by a tweet from Goodrich who was critical of the track’s condition. After several attempts, including  mediation, failed to gain a resolution, RV appointed last year an independent third-party investigator – FBIS International – to look into complaints raised by Goodrich of her treatment by the Kilmore Racing Club.

“It is the opinion of the investigator in their draft report that Ms Goodrich’s allegations of bullying and threatening behaviour against KRC were sustained in the context of the Fairwork Australia Ombudsman definition and that her suspension by KRC was flawed and unjustified,” the RV statement reads.

“Since receipt of the investigator’s draft report, RV has sought to engage with Ms Goodrich and her representatives in a bid to facilitate a resolution of her dispute with KRC, and RV remains committed to doing so at the earliest opportunity.

“Discussions regarding the matter remain on-going with Ms Goodrich and her representatives. These are best conducted on a confidential basis and thus we do not intend to comment further on the specifics of the matter at this time.”

Goodrich said the dispute had “decimated her business” and caused her to “suffer depression and anxiety”. She said the protracted dispute had “taken its toll on my health and my business.”

“No one has given me a horse to train since this has happened and I can understand that. Why would anyone give me a horse to train with this hanging over me?

“It should never have come to this. There are still so many questions that need to be asked about the handling of all this. There needs to be accountability at all levels.

“The culture of racing needs to change.”

RV has commenced work on an enhanced Governance Education Program for country clubs to assist in their management processes.

This is in addition to initiatives over the past 12 months to support the health and wellbeing of trainers, including the appointment of a full-time RV Trainer Wellbeing Officer, the development of an online TrainersPlus portal and the introduction of the Australian Trainers Trust.