RV Stewards' Reports - Rhonda Mangan, Sebastian Galea & Seamus Fitzpatrick
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Stewards' Report - Rhonda Mangan
Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued eight charges against Rhonda Mangan, as the trainer of ‘Sports Choice’ (the Horse), under the Australian Rules of Racing.
The charges concern the events around 29 May 2025, where the Horse was taken to the Hamilton racecourse to compete in Race 5, the Carters Transport BM52 Handicap, over 1200 metres (the Race). The Horse was ultimately scratched from the Race by order of the Stewards.
Charge One: AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting
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(2) Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse for the purpose of participating in a race and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who was in charge of the horse at any relevant time breaches these Australian Rules.
The particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
Following the scratching of the Horse from the Race, a blood sample was taken (the Sample) where an analysis of the Sample detected total carbon dioxide (TCO2) at a concentration in excess of 36.0 millimoles per litre in plasma.
Alkalinising agents, as evidenced by a TCO2 concentration in excess of 36.0 millimoles per litre in plasma, are prohibited substances pursuant to Division 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Rules of Racing.
Charge Two: AR 232 Failure to observe processes and directions of PRAs or Stewards
A person must not:
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(c) while the Stewards are exercising their powers, performing their functions or carrying out their duties:
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(ii) obstruct, hinder or delay the Stewards in exercising their powers, performing their functions or carrying out their duties;
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The particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
On 29 May 2025, 30 May 2025 and 4 June 2025, Ms Mangan was interviewed by the Stewards in relation to the Horse being presented at the Hamilton racecourse on 29 May 2025.
Ms Mangan hindered and/or delayed Stewards in performing their functions and/or carrying out their duties, in that:
a. Ms Mangan deleted from her phone text messages and in doing so, prevented the Stewards from accessing information relevant to their investigation; and/or
b. Failed to disclose to the Stewards information relevant to the transporting of the Horse to the Hamilton racecourse and in doing so, denied the Stewards an opportunity to pursue a relevant line of inquiry.
Charges Three, Four & Five: AR 232 Failure to observe processes and directions of PRAs or Stewards
A person must not:
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(i) give any evidence at an interview, investigation, inquiry, hearing and/or appeal which is false or misleading.
The particulars of the charges are summarised as follows:
On 29 May 2025 and 30 May 2025, when interviewed by the Stewards, Ms Mangan provided evidence that was false and/or misleading.
Charge Six: LR 27 Stabling prior to race
(1) Where a horse has been entered for any race, unless the permission of the Stewards has been granted, from time of entry to arrival on course prior to racing, the horse in question shall be stabled only at the premises from which the horse’s trainer is licensed to train.
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The particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
On 25 May 2025, the Horse was entered to run in Race 5 at the Hamilton racecourse on 29 May 2025.
On 28 May 2025, the Horse was stabled, without the permission of the Stewards, at an address other than Ms Mangan’s licensed premises.
Charge Seven: LR 45A No employment unless registered
A trainer must not employ or retain in employment any person in connection with the training, management or care of racehorses unless such person is registered in accordance with LR 45B or is otherwise licensed under the Rules.
The particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
Between 28 and 30 May 2025, Ms Mangan arranged for a person who was not licensed under the Rules of Racing at the relevant time, to take the Horse to and from the Hamilton racecourse.
Charge Eight: AR 227 Breaches of the Rules
Without limiting any other powers, a PRA or the Stewards may penalise any person who:
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(b) attempts to commit, aids, abets, counsels, procures, connives at, approaches or requests another person to commit, conspires with another person to commit, or is a party to another person who commits, a breach of the Rules.
The particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
On 6 April 2025, Ms Mangan requested the assistance of a suspended person who subsequently administered a treatment to the horse Master of Mischief on 7 April 2025.
Ms Mangan’s actions in engaging a suspended person to provide this service to her racing stable resulted in her being a party to them breaching the prohibitions to which they were subject under AR 267 as a suspended person.
The charges against Ms Mangan will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be advised.
Stewards' Report - Sebastian Galea & Seamus Fitzpatrick
Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have concluded an investigation into the conduct of licensed picnic jockey/registered Stable Employee, Sebastian Galea, and registered Stable Employee, Seamus Fitzpatrick.
The Stewards charged Mr Galea with four offences, pursuant to AR 228(b) (x 2), AR 228(d) and AR 232(i), and Mr Fitpatrick with four offences, pursuant to AR 228(b), AR 228(d) (x 2) and AR 232(c)(ii), which state the following:
AR 228 Conduct detrimental to the interests of racing
A person must not engage in:
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(b) misconduct, improper conduct or unseemly behaviour;
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(d) publishing or posting on any social media platform or channel any material, content or comment that is obscene, offensive, defamatory, racist, threatening, harassing, discriminatory or abusive to or about any other person involved in the racing industry;
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AR 232 Failure to observe processes and directions of PRAs or Stewards
A person must not:
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(c) while the Stewards are exercising their powers, performing their functions or carrying out their duties:
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(ii) obstruct, hinder or delay the Stewards in exercising their powers, performing their functions or carrying out their duties; or
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(i) give any evidence at an interview, investigation, inquiry, hearing and/or appeal which is false or misleading.
The particulars of the charges against Mr Galea, who was at all times a licensed picnic jockey and stable employee registered with RV, can be summarised as follows:
Charge 1 (AR 228(b))
Between 15 May 2025 and 16 May 2025, Mr Galea engaged in improper conduct and/or unseemly behaviour by recording video content on his mobile phone without the consent of a licensed person.
Charge 2 (AR 228(d))
Between 15 May 2025 and 16 May 2025, Mr Galea posted a video via Snapchat to other licensed persons that was obscene and/or harassing to or about another person in the racing industry.
Charge 3 (AR 228(b))
On 17 May 2025, Mr Galea attended a gathering, where he proceeded to engage in improper conduct and/or unseemly behaviour by showing a video on his mobile phone to another licensed person.
Charge 4 (AR 232(i))
On 4 June 2025 and 2 July 2025, Mr Galea was interviewed by RV Stewards, during which he provided false and/or misleading evidence.
The particulars of the charges against Mr Fitzpatrick, who at all times was a stable employee registered with RV, can be summarised as follows:
Charge 1 (AR 228(b))
Between 15 May 2025 and 16 May 2025, Mr Fitzpatrick engaged in improper conduct and/or unseemly behaviour by recording video content on his mobile phone without the consent of a licensed person.
Charge 2 (AR 228(d))
Between 15 May 2025 and 16 May 2025, Mr Fitpatrick posted video content via Snapchat to another licensed person that was obscene and/or harassing to or about another person in the racing industry.
Charge 3 (AR 228(d))
On 24 May 2025, Mr Fitzpatrick posted a Snapchat story, tagging other licensed persons, that was offensive, defamatory, harassing and/or abusive to or about another person involved in the racing industry.
Charge 4 (AR 232(c)(ii))
Between 2 June 2025 and 4 June 2025, Mr Fitzpatrick engaged in conduct that hindered and/or delayed the Stewards in performing in their functions or carrying out their duties.
Both Mr Galea and Mr Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to Charges 2-4. Whilst they pleaded not guilty to Charge 1, the Stewards were comfortably satisfied that the charge was proven on the available evidence.
In determining penalty, the Stewards considered submissions from Mr Galea and Mr Fitzpatrick, including their personal circumstances, and a victim impact statement describing the harm endured by the victim as a result of this matter. In all the circumstances, including the participants’ guilty pleas, the Stewards considered that a significant period of disqualification was warranted, having regard to the seriousness of the conduct, the unanimous view that this type of conduct is not acceptable and has no place in the racing industry, and the importance of specific and general deterrence.
Accordingly, the Stewards imposed an effective period of disqualification for both Mr Galea and Mr Fitzpatrick of 21 months. Subject to the participants’ right of appeal, these periods of disqualification are to commence immediately and expire on 21 July 2027.
A full breakdown of the penalties is as follows:
Mr Galea
Charge One (AR 228(b)): 12-month disqualification.
Charge Two (AR 228(d)): 9-month disqualification (to be served concurrently with penalty imposed for Charge One).
Charge Three (AR 228(b)): 3-month disqualification (to be served cumulatively on charge 1).
Charge Four (AR 232 (i)): 6-month disqualification (to be served cumulatively on charges 1 and 3)
Mr Fitzpatrick-
Charge One (AR 228(b)): 12-month disqualification.
Charge Two (AR 228(d)): 9-month disqualification (to be served concurrently with penalty imposed for Charge One).
Charge Three (AR 228(d)): 3-month disqualification-(to be served cumulatively on charge 1).
Charge Four (AR 232(c)(ii)): 6-month disqualification (to be served cumulatively on charge 1 and 3).