Even when you win you don't win - Sheila sues Racing Victoria

[Chief Stipe]

2024 Melbourne Cup-winning trainers sue Racing Victoria

www.racenet.com.au

 

The Knight's Choice Melbourne Cup fairytale has taken an explosive new turn, with the horse's Queensland trainers suing Racing Victoria to demand their $464,640 cut for winning the famous race.

Racenet has learned John Symons and Sheila Laxon have launched District Court action against RV after their Cup winnings were deposited into an old bank account they no longer have access to.

RV insists it simply put the money into the account it had on file and claimed it has since tried to help the trainers.

The money has not been passed onto Symons and Laxon from the person who is now believed to operate that account.

 

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It is understood RV recently sent an individual a letter of demand in relation to the matter.

However it is RV who is in the crosshairs of Symons and Laxon and the trainers confirmed that action had been lodged in the Queensland District Court.

A January 31 legal letter that contains a statement of claim has been seen by Racenet. RV has been given 28 days to file a notice of an intention to defend.

Never in doubt ????

Belief was high for trainers of KNIGHT'S CHOICE John Symons and Sheila Laxon.

???? @wwos | #MelbourneCup | #MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/L2phMvbOlM

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 5, 2024

• How Racenet's Ben Dorries revealed the Melbourne Cup trainers' prizemoney saga

RV issued the following statement to Racenet on Wednesday evening: "We are not able to comment in any detail given that the matter is now the subject of proceedings, however note that RV has paid out all Melbourne Cup prizemoney as required, including to the bank account registered with us for Ms Laxon and Mr Symons' trainer prizemoney payments in Victoria.

"We have taken the steps available to us to assist Ms Laxon and Mr Symons in recovering the money from what RV has subsequently been advised is their former account."

Racenet first revealed the story last month that the trainers' prizemoney for the race that stops the nation was paid into an old bank account that the trainers no longer use.

Knight's Choice ridden by Robbie Dolan won the 2024 Melbourne Cup at $91. Picture: Racing Photos

• How chance meeting set up Sheila Laxon and Robbie Dolan's Melbourne Cup triumph

The fresh legal saga is threatening to further sour the incredible Melbourne Cup triumph of Knight's Choice, a $91 roughie who shocked the world by winning the famous race last November.

It was Symons' first Melbourne Cup win and also the first time a Queensland-trained horse had won the Cup.

It maintained Laxon's unblemished Melbourne Cup record after she previously won the Cup with Ethereal, who won the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in 2001.

"It's a fairytale ending!"

Two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer, Sheila Laxon on what it takes to train a champion horse and why 2024 winner, Knight's Choice is such a "dude" ????#MelbCupCarnival#MelbourneCup#CupDaypic.twitter.com/FdsEVBHBdB

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 6, 2024

• Melbourne Cup trailblazer Sheila Laxon becomes a legend

Since scoring the 2024 Cup, Laxon and Symons have gone on promotional tours with the trophy.

The Australian Trainers' Association has been assisting the pair with their efforts to recover the Melbourne Cup prizemoney.

[billy connolly]

Don't know the facts but if I was Laxon/Symons I'd be hiring hit men.

What is the banks position, wouldn't there be interest accruing or have the funds vanished ?

[Chief Stipe]

Account numbers aren't reallocated.  Not like phone numbers  So that means Laxon and the mystery person both owned the account at one stage.  The mystery person still operates the account.  Laxon stuffed up by not notifying the change of account to Racing Victoria or Racing Victoria were notified and didn't update their system.  The only way Laxon has a case against Racing Victoria is if they stuffed up after being given notification.

Of course the person who has control of the money and refusing to hand it over is acting criminally.  

[curious]

19 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Account numbers aren't reallocated. 

This one evidently was.

[Chief Stipe]

22 minutes ago, curious said:

This one evidently was.

Where's the evidence for that?  I haven't seen anything to suggest that other than the fact that Laxon is suing Racing Victoria rather than the account holder.  That would suggest she doesn't have a relationship with the current account holder.  

I'd say it was more likely a joint account with 2 or more account holders one of whom was Laxon.  Laxon moves on and her name is taken off the account 

I've seen some legal action taken recently under those circumstances.

The only reason Laxon can sue Racing Victoria is if she told them her new account number and they didn't change it.

 

[curious]

Bit hard to say isn't it from the above? In one place it says "their former account."  In another, "the person who is now believed to operate that account". A third party, accountant, former employee? Regardless, as you said, it is theft, but not by RV.

Edited 18 hours ago by curious

[Gammalite]

2 hours ago, curious said:

Bit hard to say isn't it from the above? In one place it says "their former account."  In another, "the person who is now believed to operate that account". A third party, accountant, former employee? Regardless, as you said, it is theft, but not by RV.

Sounds that way. And someone that Laxon doesn't get on with at all either. Or they would just hand over the money.

You can do a bank transfer in minutes these days. 

What an ass that person is for not co-operating 🙄. Doesn't seem RV at fault . they said they paid the money to nominated accounts. That's all you can do. 

[curious]

55 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

What an ass that person is for not co-operating 🙄.

Maybe, unless they were owed the money?

[Newmarket]

So whose account was it paid to? Seems strange, maybe more to it 😙

[The Centaur]

6 hours ago, curious said:

Bit hard to say isn't it from the above? In one place it says "their former account."  In another, "the person who is now believed to operate that account". A third party, accountant, former employee? Regardless, as you said, it is theft, but not by RV.

I always believed that the law was quite clear where mistakes are made. The money has to be returned. Happens every day. Why its so hard here is very strange.

[Gammalite]

27 minutes ago, The Centaur said:

I always believed that the law was quite clear where mistakes are made. The money has to be returned. Happens every day. Why its so hard here is very strange.

I always laugh when that Rotorua couple that had nearly gone broke applied for a $100,000 overdraft from Westpac that time around 15 years ago.

Some buffoon put an extra 2 zeroes on when doing the bank transfer lol 🤣😅 so thanking their lucky stars they fled the country with  $10,000,000.  leaving the struggling Rotorua petrol station behind (complete with stock on selves lol)

After a couple of years the NZ lass wanted to return to NZ , as had split with the Chinese guy who was busy blowing tens of thousands in Macau and Hong Kong and China casino's. She had a young daughter is probably why she rang police and came back after two years to face the court. 

Not sure if they ever caught the bloke or not. Better to give back what is NOT yours. 

Hope the idiot that has Sheila Laxon's MC percentage money gives it back . Some of it is Mr Symon's as well ? so is he stealing from 2 people for some reason? was Mr Symon's careless where he wanted his payments to go as well.?  what about other races percentages leading up to the Melbourne Cup ? where did they go I wonder 🤔 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by Gammalite

[Chief Stipe]

8 hours ago, Gammalite said:

Hope the idiot that has Sheila Laxon's MC percentage money gives it back . Some of it is Mr Symon's as well ? so is he stealing from 2 people for some reason? was Mr Symon's careless where he wanted his payments to go as well.?  what about other races percentages leading up to the Melbourne Cup ? where did they go I wonder 🤔 

Perhaps Racing Victoria should change their processes.  On large sums like the MC % when won by someone who isn’t regularly receiving stakes payments get on the phone and double check?  BEFORE transferring $500k!

[Chief Stipe]

There is a rumour circulating that the money went to a joint business account with some business relationship to the standing of Bel Esprit which was owned by Laxon's partner Symon's.  

I find it difficult to imagine that there was any money owing given Bel Esprit stood at Eliza Park/Widden for 19 years and was stood down in 2022.