Latest News

Background

Racing NSW Stewards have conducted an inquiry into the conduct of licensed stablehand Mr Stephen Braybrook arising from a number of separate incidents involving a female industry participant at Randwick Racecourse.

The inquiry concerned comments made by Mr Braybrook in relation to the female industry participant, including a threat of physical violence and a separate comment made following an incident involving the participant and a horse.

During the inquiry, a brief of evidence compiled by Racing NSW Investigator Ethan Pitt was tendered, and oral evidence was taken from Mr Braybrook and a number of other industry participants.

Following consideration of the evidence, Stewards issued two charges against Mr Braybrook under AR228(b).

Charges issued against Mr Stephen Braybrook

Charge 1: AR228(b) Improper Conduct

The particulars of the charge are that in or around early June 2026, Mr Braybrook engaged in improper conduct at Randwick Racecourse by directing comments towards a female industry participant concerning her suitability to ride a thoroughbred horse.

Plea: Guilty
Finding: Guilty

Charge 2: AR228(b) Improper Conduct

The particulars of the charge are that on or about 10 July 2026, Mr Braybrook engaged in improper conduct at Randwick Racecourse by making a threat of physical violence concerning a female industry participant.

Plea: Guilty
Finding: Guilty

Penalty

The following penalty considerations were taken into account:

• Pleas entered
• Objective seriousness of the conduct
• Precedent penalties
• Mr Braybrook’s personal and professional circumstances
• Mr Braybrook’s lengthy tenure in the industry
• Principles of specific and general deterrence and what message is sent to the industry in respect to such conduct
• The purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image, interests and welfare of the Thoroughbred Racing Industry

Charge 1: AR228(b) – 3 month suspension of licence

Charge 2: AR228(b) – 1 month suspension of licence

Having considered the penalties imposed in respect of each charge and the principle of totality, Stewards determined that an appropriate overall penalty was a 3-month suspension of licence.

Having regard to Mr Braybrook’s guilty pleas and the relevant penalty considerations, Stewards reduced the penalty to a period of 8 weeks’ suspension.

Acting under AR283(5), Stewards determined that one month of the 8-week suspension be suspended for a period of 12 months, conditional upon Mr Braybrook not breaching any related rule during that period.

Accordingly, Mr Braybrook is required to serve a suspension of one month, commencing on 25 August 2026 and concluding on 25 September 2026, on which day he may resume his duties.

Mr Braybrook was advised of his rights of appeal.

Relevant Rules

AR 228 Conduct detrimental to the interests of racing

A person must not engage in:

(b) misconduct, improper conduct or unseemly behaviour;

Division 4 – Penalties

AR 283 Penalties

Any person or body authorised by the Rules to penalise a person may in respect of any penalty imposed in relation to the conduct of a person and other than in relation to a period of disqualification or a warning off, suspend the operation of that penalty either wholly or in part for a period not exceeding 2 years, on terms they think fit.

- D.R. Hadley (General Manager-Investigations, Racing NSW)