Richie Callander and Liam Prior charged over Hong Kong horse sale
TWO prominent Sydney racing figures have been charged over their involvement in the sale of a racehorse to Hong Kong.
Tipster Richard Callander and racing manager Liam Prior have been charged with dishonest and/or fraudulent actions in connection with the dispersal of $60,000 from the $200,000 sale price of Lil Caesar.
Leading jockey Glyn Schofield has also been charged under a different rule for his involvement in that he did not have Racing NSW permission to be buying and selling bloodstock.
Callander was the managing part-owner of Lil Caesar who now races successfully in Hong Kong as Lucky Year.
Prior is the racing manager for Chris Waller, Australia’s most successful racehorse trainer who prepared the horse to win a Rosehill barrier trial before its sale to Hong Kong interests.
Callander admitted during an inquiry on Monday he kept a commission from the sale but says money has since been paid to the horse’s other former owners who were told the sale price was $140,000.
Prior told the hearing he received $24,000 from the proceeds.
Racing NSW stewards will hear the charges on March 10.
The Lil Caesar deal came to light when Racing Victoria stewards quizzed Schofield over the Hong Kong sale of another unraced horse, Equita, previously trained by Brent Stanley.
Victorian stewards have charged both Schofield and Stanley in relation to the sale.