Emotions laid bare at Goodrich inquiry

BY BRUCE CLARK - @SNOWYCLARK

2 hours ago Horse Racing

If anyone needed a deeper understanding of bullied trainer Kate Goodrich they only needed to be at Friday’s Racing Appeals Disciplinary Board (RADB) hearing.

In a highly emotional three hours, Goodrich pleaded guilty to obstructing the Racing Victoria compliance assurance team (CAT) at a routine stable visit on December 12 last year under rule 8(d). RV Stewards have refused her nominations since, a move followed in New South Wales.

In what was described as a “complex matter’ and a first before the RADB, Judge Bowman issued a three month suspension against the charge but suspended that for 12 months, effectively opening the way for Goodrich to have runners again.

The board changed an original intention of disqualification to suspension but RV stewards through counsel James Ogilvy, sought to submit the ban on nominations under AR50 remain.

This was immediately rejected by Judge Bowman who said the issue was now resolved and that AR50 had no further effect.

But Goodrich has no horses in work and must decide if she wishes to train in Victoria or anywhere as her long dispute with RV and the Kilmore Racing Club, where she once trained continues.

An independent RV report founded she had been “bullied” as a trainer at Kilmore where reasons for a ban imposed on her training there were “flawed and unjustified”.

Goodrich will be in the Supreme Court in late May with civil action against RV continue, and although despite much mediation, no solution has been achieved between the parties.

But it was the RADB hearing of the charge itself that almost hauntingly played out the state of mind of Goodrich and her mistrust of the RV Integrity team.

After an RV video recording of the December stable visit was played into evidence, Goodrich’s barrister Ragu Appudurai was able to play a recording from Goodrich’s own mobile phone of the event.

This was a recording left going after the CAT had left the property and all that can be heard is Goodrich uncontrollably sobbing and crying for about four minutes until she is heard to say “when is this all going to end”.

The hearing was later adjourned when Goodrich burst into tears when asked to provide her position on allowing RV staff onto her property in the future under the rules to complete a stable inspection. (It was later agreed that Goodrich would not attend a stable inspection though responsibility on her horses remained with the trainer).

Their own CAT supplied vision showed Simon Quinter and Rhys Melville entering the Goodrich property, that she shares with her partner Jon Hassall, and seeking to inspect Street Stalker, who running at Kilmore that day.

Goodrich said they had indicated via a letter to then RV CEO Bernard Saundry that they did not trust RV stewards and would not allow them onto her property.

“How can I trust you as employee of Racing Victoria you are going to do right thing and if you don’t who do I go to?” Goodrich is seen saying to the CAT.

“Every single allegation I have made has been ignored. I can’t believe I’ve been put in this position. You are destroying my life, my livelihood

“You all talk about welfare, look at the state I’m in right now. I don’t want you coming on my property while this situation is not resolved.

She went on to say in the CAT presence: “This is just so disgusting”.

 Both Goodrich and Hassell are seen saying they had no issue with the CAT inspecting the horse but wanted a member of Victorian Police present.

Ogilvy for RV said “no trainer was able to contract out of stable inspections by stewards” under the rules of racing.

“The purpose of the visit on December 12 was not as a result of a tip off, it was a routine stable inspection, at least seven others were conducted on that day, from largest stable in area to the smallest,” he said.

Ogilvy acknowledged this was a ‘complex matter” and accepted Goodrich’s state of mind was respected in relation to her mistrust of RV.

“Stewards do not accept Ms Goodrich’s state of mind is the cause or is justified by their conduct. That is a matter of dispute and on-going dispute,” Ogilvy said.

He said stewards acted independently of the RV board and “do not act on the behest of CEO, who doesn't tell them to allow police to attend stable inspection.”

Appudurai said the plying of Goodrich’s audio after the CAT had left her property clearly explained her state of mind.

“What she has already endured is more than any penalty you would have done in any case. She has had several years unrelenting pressure,” he said.

Judge Bowman said the board had already taken into account the three months “served” under the current nominations ban but any breach of rule 8 (d) in the next 12 months would see the three month suspension revisited.

NOMINATIONS

Colours	Horse Name
	Rubber Stamp
	Ifaconican

Colours	Horse Name
	Abduct
	New York Rockette
	Honey Trap