Racing New South Wales has dismissed calls by Independent Senator Nick Xenophon for a judicial inquiry into horse racing, following the controversial clash between horse owner John Singleton and trainer Gai Waterhouse on Saturday.

Singleton sacked the legendary trainer, following allegations she tipped off her bookmaker son Tom about the condition of star mare More Joyous before Saturday’s race.

Thomas Brakstad reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Long time anti-gambling campaigner Nick Xenophon wants Racing New South Wales to look into the relationship between trainers and bookmakers.

Nick Xenophon, Independent Senator: “I don’t think John Singleton is someone that you can treat lightly with the allegations he made. I know they’ve been denied by the Waterhouse’s. I reckon the best and fairest way to deal with this is an inquiry with judicial power to clear the air once and for all.”

Racing New South Wales refused Xenophon’s call for a judicial inquiry claiming the senator is over-reacting.

They will carry out their own investigation.

Peter V’landys, Racing New South Wales: “Say if you had reliable information that a horse wasn’t going to perform you’d probably look to benefit from it. We’ll have a look at the betting sheets in the next couple of days.”

Gai Waterhouse had nothing to say to the media today.

Gai Waterhouse, trainer: “No comment.”

Her son, Tom, denied Singleton’s allegations against him and is threatening the millionaire horse owner with legal action.

Tom Waterhouse, bookmaker: “I never said it had problems, I never knew that it had problems. He says that kind of stuff just to, I think to cause a bit of controversy and always has a bit of a fight, tiff with mum regularly. But they always kiss and make up the next day.”

Singleton and the Waterhouses have been family friends for nearly forty years a friendship that ended spectacularly on Saturday.

Thomas Brakstad, QUT News.