RV Stewards' Report - Umesh Joseph

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have concluded an inquiry into the conduct of licensed farrier, Umesh Joseph.

On 20 May 2026, Mr Joseph pleaded guilty to three charges under the Rules of Racing; two offences, pursuant to AR 233(c) and one offence, pursuant to AR 232 (i), which state :

AR 233 Other Misconduct Offences

A person must not: 
…

(c) engage in sexual harassment of a person employed, engaged in or participating in the racing industry; 
…

AR 232 Failure to observe processes and directions of PRAs or Stewards

A person must not:
…

(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 Joseph, who was at all relevant times a farrier licensed by Racing Victoria, were as follows:

Charge 1 - AR 233 (c)

• Between 4 August 2025 and 23 August 2025, Mr Joseph engaged in sexual harassment of a person employed in the racing industry by sending a licensed trainer messages via Facebook Messenger.

Charge 2 - AR 233 (c)

• Between 11 May 2025 and 30 July 2025, Mr Joseph engaged in sexual harassment of a person employed in the racing industry by sending a registered stable employee messages via Facebook Messenger.

Charge 3 - AR 232 (i)

• On 23 February 2026, Mr Joseph participated in an interview with the Stewards, during which he provided false evidence, denying that it was him using his Facebook Messenger account to send the messages of concern and stating an unknown third party had accessed his account to send messages to a registered stable employee.

In considering an appropriate penalty, the Stewards considered verbal submissions from Mr Joseph, including but not limited to, his current employment, personal circumstances, the serious nature of the conduct, the lack of empathy Mr Joseph displayed to the affected persons, and his record.

In all the circumstances, including the participant’s guilty pleas, the Stewards determined that a significant period of disqualification was warranted, having regard to the seriousness of the conduct, 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 a period of disqualification on Mr Joseph of a total period of 12 months. Subject to the participant’s right of appeal, this period of disqualification commenced immediately and will expire on 20 May 2027.

A full breakdown of the penalties for the individual charges is as follows:

Charge One: AR 233 (c): 6-month disqualification;

Charge Two: AR 233 (c): 6-month disqualification (to be served cumulatively with penalty imposed for Charge One); and

Charge Three: AR 232 (i): 3-month disqualification (to be served concurrently on Charges 1 and 2).