Former jockey and Sky Racing presenter Chynna Marston claimed the animal cruelty allegations were a “vendetta” by Racing NSW as she took legal action against Tumut Turf Club following her serious crash in 2014.
Racing NSW found Marston and her partner Alex Kean guilty of a total of 15 animal welfare offenses on August 23 after an inquest found they had abused Thoroughbred horses in their care.
The stewards charged Marston and Kean with not giving twelve racehorses enough feed from March 27, 2023 to June 5, 2023. They also accused her of not receiving medical attention for six racehorses between February 14, 2023 and March 27, 2023.
They also faced a third charge of conduct against the interests of racing.
Racing NSW also found that Kean shot a horse after an alleged paddock accident without consulting a vet or the governing body.
Marston and Kean did not participate in the interrogation, nor did they answer calls questioning their absence. A date for the sentencing has not yet been announced.
The former jockey stepped down from her duties at Sky Racing Thoroughbred Central in July. She did not return to the air before handing in her retirement last week.
Rather than participate in the investigation, Marston posted a 17-minute video entitled “My Stance” on Vimeo, in which he denied all allegations and refused to do anything with Racing NSW in the future.
Marston spoke at length about her side of the story in a 17-minute video
Marston and her current partner Alex Kean (pictured together) have been found guilty on a total of 15 counts and will be sentenced at a later date
“You guys have made me one of the most hated people right now, but my name has been added to a list of horses I have yet to own, care for, have custody of or control over,” she said in the video.
Now Marston has filed a lawsuit over workplace injuries following her fall on Zarababe in 2014.
Marston, then a 23-year-old apprentice jockey, suffered a broken nose and trauma to her back and neck in the crash that ended her career, in a race that was later canceled due to wet weather.
She was unconscious for five minutes, suffered a seizure, her nose was broken in two places, she had trauma to her T2 and T3 vertebrae, and damaged ligaments and muscles in her neck.
Marston has since claimed the fall led to conditions including epilepsy, memory loss and persistent headaches.
“I broke my neck, my back, I had brain damage, epilepsy, post-concussion syndrome, I suffered daily from the consequences of my racing crash,” she said in her current video.
Marston is pictured after the 2014 fall that ended her career as a jockey and resulted in serious injuries including a broken nose and neck and back trauma
Marston claims the animal cruelty violations are the result of a “vendetta” by Racing NSW over their threatened legal action against Tumut Turf Club.
“I intend to take my point of view – and the truth – to the adult court … and have things heard in an actual courtroom scenario, and things will certainly turn out very differently there, I’m sure,” she said .
Marston claims he was harassed by Racing NSW stewards, who entered their property to collect “illegal” evidence.
“I’ve also had to call the police multiple times for trespassing, trespassing on my property and also for harassment,” she said.
“They keep calling and emailing me about things unrelated to me, to the point that the police have ordered me to change my number and email address to stop this harassment.” to put an end to it.”
She claims the evidence used by Racing NSW was illegal because it was collected while she and Kean were abroad.
“When we got back I found that a steward from Racing NSW had trespassed on my property. “He did this without making contact, certainly no permission was given at all and he had absolutely no right,” she said.
“He then used evidence that he had obtained it illegally, put my name on a list and didn’t even bother to let him know that not all the horses were in my name, these horses were.” ‘Not mine. ‘
Marston (pictured left) has stepped down from her role as presenter on Sky Racing after initially stepping down in July
Marston alleges that the horses involved were not in their names and that Racing NSW stewards trespassed on their property illegally
Racing NSW Rules show that stewards may have access to a property for welfare reasons
Under the latest Racing NSW racing rules, there are conditions under Division 4 under which a steward can gain access to property for welfare reasons.
Marston downplayed the seriousness of the violations, admitting that two vulnerable animals died after a salmonella outbreak, while another animal, in poor health, was confiscated while she was abroad.
“The Thoroughbreds survived.” [the salmonella outbreak]However, we lost two ponies in the process. “So it was certainly a tough time,” she said.
Of the horse, which was confiscated while she was abroad, Marston said, “She had a myriad of health issues that no one has ever asked me about.”
“Everyone said she was starving and stuff like that, but there were a lot of witnesses who were willing to say a lot about that horse being fed and what we did.”
“I said we wanted to try more with her. And when we left, this horse was taken away.’
In the video, Marston also repeatedly points out that prior to the investigation, she resigned from the charity Recycled Racehorses, which she founded. Her partner Kean is the current CEO while she continues to volunteer with the charity.
Marston has strenuously denied the mistreatment of horses in her care, saying the animals that died were susceptible to a salmonella outbreak and another horse was already in poor health
Marston’s career in front of the camera appears to be over and she is taking legal action over the fall that ended her jockeying career to make up for lost earnings
Marston also targeted a journalist who had covered the investigation and the resulting investigation.
“An incompetent journalist who continues on her way of misinterpreting things without even doing any research, she is the only one who has come to me with pathetic, absolutely despicable questions and comments.” “It was ridiculous to say the least,” said them in the video.
“She’s the only one who’s even tried, and like I said, she didn’t even do any research. So it will be great to see them on the other side of a courtroom too.”
The journalist concerned has replied.
“This columnist asked Marston a few questions, which she ignored.” However, she did offer a character assessment and some advice on our next steps,” the journalist wrote.
“She also incorrectly implied that she had not previously been contacted for comment.”
Marston also mentioned a man she knew who was jailed after being found guilty of kidnapping and raping her.
At the end of the video, Marston initially said she would not comment further unless a donation was made to a charity of her choice, before saying: “I’m turning off my phones and the comments now, so I don’t have that .” manage with that. Bye.’
Marston was contacted by Daily Mail Australia for comment.
