QRIC defends new chief steward
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has issued a statement supporting its new chief steward after an allegation the Singapore based steward had a share in an Australian horse.
Chadwick will take over from Allan Reardon as chief steward in Queensland from August.
QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett issued a statement on Friday saying that while Chadwick was chief steward in Singapore he had a two per cent interest in an Australian racehorse.
Barnett said as far as QRIC was concerned Chadwick had acted within the rules to get rid of any conflict of interest.
“After securing the position of QRIC Chief Thoroughbred Steward he informed me that he was taking immediate steps to divest his ownership to ensure there was no actual or perceived conflict of interest with his new role,” Barnett said.
“That action is currently underway and will be completed before Mr Chadwick takes up his position in Queensland in August.
“As far as I am concerned he has acted appropriately, and has acted well within our processes and procedures to divest himself of this ownership once he knew the new role in Queensland was his.
“Mr Chadwick’s judgment has been sound and I have been well aware of the perceived conflict well before it became an issue of speculation within the local racing industry.