Charges Over Horse Sale

Harley Walden, racing coloumnist

By Harley Walden

Racing NSW stewards have charged a jockey and two other racing identities over the sale of former Sydney racehorse.

Tipster Richard Callandar and racing manager Liam Prior have been charged with dishonest and/or fraudulent actions with the dispersal of $60,000 from the $200,000 sale price of Lil Caesar, sold to Hong Kong.

Leading jockey Glen Schofield has also been charged under a different rule for his involvement in that he did not have Racing NSW permission to be buying and selling bloodstock.

Callandar was the managing part-owner of Lil Caesar who now races successfully in Hong Kong as Lucky Year.

Prior is the racing manager for Chris Waller, Australia’s most successful racehorse trainer who prepared the horse to win a Rosehill barrier trial before its sale to Hong Kong interests.

Callandar admitted during an inquiry on February 22 he kept a commission from the sale but says money has since been paid to the horse’s other former owners who were told the sale price was $140,000.

Prior told the hearing he received $24,000 from the proceeds.

Racing NSW stewards will hear the charges on March 10.

The Lil Caesar deal came to light when Racing Victoria stewards quizzed Schofield over the Hong Kong sale of another unraced horse, Equita, previously trained by Brent Stanley.

Victorian stewards have charged both Schofield and Stanley in relation to the sale.