Trainer cops fine over whip

QUEENSLAND stewards have seized a modified and unapproved whip, which they claim was capable of inflicting cruelty to a horse.

Rookie Darling Downs trainer Joshua Morrow, a former jockey who had his first runner as a trainer a year ago, was fined $3000 by stewards who had launched an inquiry.

The stewards’ report read: “Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards today concluded an inquiry into the circumstances arising from an inspection of the registered stable address of licensed trainer Mr Joshua Morrow by Integrity Investigations Team (IIT) stewards conducted on Saturday 31 December 2022 whereby an unapproved modified whip was discovered and seized by IIT stewards.

“After considering evidence provided by the IIT stewards and Mr Morrow, QRIC stewards charged Mr Morrow with a breach of Rule 231(1)(a) of the Australian Rules of Racing.

“Australian Rule of Racing 231(1)(a) provides: A person must not: (a) commit or commission an act of cruelty to a horse, or be in possession of any article or thing which, in the opinion of the stewards, is capable of inflicting cruelty to a horse. The specifics of the charge being that Mr Joshua Morrow, as a licensed trainer, had in his possession at his registered stable address an unapproved modified whip that, in the opinion of stewards, was capable of inflicting cruelty to a horse.”

Morrow pleaded guilty to the charge. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account “the fact the whip had been modified by way of the attachment of wire to the whip, of which the stewards deemed to be a significant breach of the Australian Rules of Racing due to the welfare risk to horses that may be exposed to potential use of the modified whip”.

“The stewards … determined the appropriate penalty to be a monetary penalty in the amount of $3,000,” the stewards’ report read.