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Background

At 7:30am on 29 March 2025, Mr Samuel Begg and a number of industry participants were completing trackwork duties at Warwick Farm Racecourse. Following a riding incident, a verbal argument ensured, at which time, Mr Begg directed towards a male industry participant words to the effect of, “Put that mutt on a leash, she’s a dog, put that mutt on a leash”. Mr Begg used improper language as he made these comments.

Mr Begg continued his tirade of abuse and directed towards the same male industry participant words to the effect of, “You think you’re J-Mac, and you’re not that good, you’re useless”. Mr Begg further stated “You wait till after work, I’m going to smash you”. Mr Begg used improper language as he made these comments.

Mr Begg and the industry participants rode off the track at which time Mr Begg barked and howled like a dog towards the male and a female industry participant. Racing NSW Investigators commenced an investigation and obtained statements from four (4) industry participants.

Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the alleged incident. A brief of evidence compiled by Racing NSW Investigator Ben Lavorato was tendered and oral evidence was taken from three (3) participants and Mr Begg.

Stewards considered the evidence and issued a charge under AR228(b) against Mr Begg as detailed below:

Charge issued against Mr Samuel Begg

Charge 1: AR228(b)

The details of the charge being that at 7:30am on 29 March 2025, during trackwork at Warwick Farm Racecourse, he engaged in improper conduct by directing threatening and improper language towards a male and female industry participant. Furthermore, he barked and howled like a dog towards the same male and female industry participant.

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Guilty

Penalty

The following penalty considerations were taken into account:

- Guilty plea
- The contrition and remorse shown by Mr Begg and his willingness to accept responsibility for his conduct
- Objective seriousness of the conduct
- Prior serious breach of AR228 in June 2018
- Mr Begg’s personal and professional circumstances
- Principle of specific and general deterrence and what message is sent to the industry in respect to such conduct
- Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image, interests and welfare of the Thoroughbred Racing Industry

Charge 1 – 6 weeks suspension of licence

Having regard to his guilty plea and other relevant considerations, Stewards ordered Mr Begg’s licence be suspended for a period of 6 weeks reduced to 4 weeks, to commence immediately and to expire on 5 June 2025.

Mr Begg 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;
(e) conduct which threatens, disparages, vilifies or insults another person (“other person”) on any basis, including but not limited to, a person’s race, religion, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, special ability/disability, or sexual orientation, preference or identity, while the other person is acting in the course of his or her duties in the racing industry

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