Ben Woodsford and Tony Romeo have received lengthy disqualifications following a Racing Victoria stewards’ inquiry into multiple integrity breaches involving the horses Geegees Hisword and We Deserve This.
Woodsford pleaded guilty to four charges arising from his involvement with Geegees Hisword despite not holding a Victorian trainer’s licence.
Stewards found Woodsford presented the horse for trackwork at Wangaratta on October 31, 2025, before later presenting it at Wangaratta jump-outs on November 6.
He also admitted twice providing false evidence during steward interviews and refusing to continue giving evidence during an inquiry on November 28 concerning both horses.
After considering his guilty pleas and disciplinary history, stewards disqualified Woodsford for 15 months.
Registered trainer Tony Romeo faced six charges arising from the same investigation.
He reserved his plea on a charge alleging he permitted Woodsford, who was not licensed to train horses in Victoria, to undertake training activities with Geegees Hisword, including supervising trackwork and presenting the horse at jump-outs.
Romeo pleaded guilty to the remaining five charges, including twice providing false evidence to stewards during interviews.
The inquiry also uncovered several record-keeping and declaration breaches.
Stewards found Romeo supplied a falsified work diary for Geegees Hisword and We Deserve This during a stable inspection on November 20.
He also submitted stable returns declaring both horses were active at his Diggers Rest stable and under his care as trainer, declarations that stewards determined were false.
