Stablehand has ban reduced over racehorse death

The Racing NSW Appeal Panel has reduced the disqualification imposed on Brian Carey from 16 months to 13 months following an appeal relating to the starvation death of former racehorse City Limits.

Carey, a 64-year-old licensed stablehand, transported the former Kembla Grange-trained gelding to his property at Maryborough in Victoria in October 2025.

City Limits was later found dead on January 12 this year.

The Appeal Panel found Carey failed to ensure the horse received proper nutrition, water and supervision, breaching LR114(2)(a) and Racing NSW’s Minimum Standards.

Evidence presented during the proceedings showed Carey, who was the registered owner of City Limits, did not personally inspect the horse for 74 days and instead relied on family members with acknowledged physical and cognitive limitations.

Photographs tendered to the inquiry showed the horse in an emaciated condition, lying dead in a paddock with no available grass and a dry water trough.

Carey also admitted providing false information to a Racing NSW investigator regarding how often he had checked on the horse.

The Panel found he ignored numerous warning signs, including concerns he had personally raised about drought conditions and messages from a neighbour highlighting the poor state of the paddock.

While taking into account Carey’s late guilty plea and personal circumstances, the Appeal Panel determined the offence remained objectively serious and warranted a substantial penalty.

The disqualification was reduced to 13 months and backdated to January 21.

The Panel also ordered that 50 per cent of Carey’s appeal deposit be refunded.