Trainer Slapped with 4 1/2 Year Disqualification

TRAINER Sarah Fellowes has been disqualified for 4 ½ years by the Greyhound, Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC) after being found guilty of a string of breaches to the greyhound racing rules.

On May 8, 2024, following investigations by GWIC, Ms Fellowes was issued with one charge under the Greyhound Racing Rules, but on May 31, that particular charge was withdrawn, before an additional twenty-two charges were levelled against the East Seaham based trainer.

13 of the charges related to Ms. Fellowes "doing a thing which, in the opinion of GWIC, was dishonest and improper by allowing a person without a trainer registration to undertake activities associated with training a greyhound, whilst the greyhound was recorded as being trained by Ms. Fellowes". 

The remaining charges related to failing to comply with a clause of the Greyhound Racing Act and "doing a thing, which in the opinion of GWIC, was dishonest and improper by holding out to stewards that a greyhound trained by her had been examined by a vet when it had not".

On June 19, Ms Fellowes attended a hearing where her legal representative entered pleas to each of the charges while also making submissions in relation to the charges on Ms Fellowes' behalf.

Following the hearing, GWIC declared that charges 2-23 had been proven, before outlining the disciplinary action they proposed to take in response to the matter.

After considering Ms Fellowes' pleas and submissions, GWIC handed down a disqualification period of 55 months and fines totalling $1650.

The disqualification period expires on January 6, 2029.

In outlining the reasoning for the decision, GWIC decision makers noted that the offending for one particular charge had occurred over a three-year period.

Ms Fellowes now has the ability to appeal the decision at the Racing Appeals Tribunal.