Trainer Kim Waugh and jockey Serg Lisnyy have been charged for committing an act of cruelty on a horse which sustained serious injuries in a track work incident.
Kim Waugh has been fined and jockey Serg Lisnyy banned for six months after Racing NSW stewards found the pair guilty of using spurs on a racehorse in the trainer’s care.
Stewards received a complaint about the treatment of unraced gelding Tarsus, who sustained lacerations and abrasions after Lisnyy rode him in trackwork at Wyong in March while wearing spurs.
While spurs are permitted for use, they must be blunt and are not to be used in an excessive or improper manner.
Lisnyy pleaded not guilty to three charges encompassing committing an act of cruelty to a horse, using non-approved spurs and using them in an excessive or improper manner.
Stewards found there was no intent from Lisnyy to harm Tarsus and took into account his good standing in the industry before suspending his licence to ride for a total of six months, effective from May 20.
Waugh, who was not at Wyong when the incident occurred, pleaded guilty to failing to exercise all reasonable supervision and care to prevent the cruelty taking place, and failing to report a rule breach once she discovered Tarsus had been mistreated.
She was fined $19,000, which was reduced to just over $14,000 on the back of her guilty pleas.
