Emma Stewart hearing delayed until March

The Victorian Racing Tribunal has rescheduled a directions hearing into charges levelled against harness racing trainer Emma Stewart to Monday, March 25.

A directions hearing into the matter was set down for today, but was delayed to address the stewards’ decision to halt the transfer of Stewart’s horses.

To recap, on December 5, HRV stewards disqualified Stewart for six months, which the trainer appealed. Stewart sought a stay of proceedings, which HRV stewards opposed but which was granted by the tribunal.

Later that week Stewart lodged stable returns with HRV to transfer 21 horses to her partner Clayton Tonkin, which stewards rejected citing that it could “circumvent the effect of any potential penalty the Victorian Racing Tribunal might impose”.

At today’s directions hearing, the tribunal heard from Stewart’s representative Damian Sheales and HRV’s representative Chris Winneke KC. The tribunal then ordered the parties to provide written submissions as to whether HRV’s decision to reject the stable returns was compliant with its December 8 order.

The tribunal also set down the aforementioned new directions hearing for Stewart’s appeal of the disqualification for March 25.

by Michael Howard, for Harness Racing Victoria