Show me the money! Why Melbourne Cup-winning trainers STILL haven’t been paid their prizemoney after victory from outsider Knight’s Choice
- Racing Victoria is convinced they are not to blame
- Money allegedly deposited into an unused account
- John Symons and Sheila Laxon are chasing $464,000
Melbourne Cup-winning trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon have yet to be paid their prize money from last November due to an administrative error by Racing Victoria.
Rank outsider Knight’s Choice ($81) flashed home to win the race holding back a nation at Flemington, earning the trainers a tidy $464,000.
The total prize money on offer was a whopping $4.4 million – and while jockey Robbie Dolan and the horse’s owners have received their share, Symons and Laxon are waiting nervously.
It is alleged that the payment was deposited into a bank account that the couple no longer has access to.
Understandably, the trainers involved have been in contact with lawyers in an attempt to rectify the situation.
“John and Sheila raised this issue with the ATA Queensland a few weeks ago when the prize money payment error was first recognized,” Cameron Partington, a Queensland ATA representative, told reporters. Racenet.com.au.
Melbourne Cup-winning trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon have yet to be paid their prize money from last November due to an administrative error by Racing Victoria
The total prize money was a whopping $4.4 million – and while jockey Robbie Dolan (pictured) and the horse’s owners have received their share, Symons and Laxon are nervously waiting for their $464,000.
It is alleged the payment was deposited into a bank account which the trainers no longer have access to (pictured right, Knight’s Choice after winning the Melbourne Cup)
“In turn, I involved the federal ATA office and CEO Stephen Bell, given Racing Victoria’s role here in being responsible for the payment of Melbourne Cup prize money and the significance of the issue.
‘Over the past week, the ATA has been in ongoing dialogue at both state and federal levels with John, Sheila and both Racing Queensland and Racing Victoria, encouraging all parties to work together to resolve the error.
‘It is an extremely unfortunate situation and will undoubtedly cause John and Sheila enormous stress at a time when they should still be basking in the celebration of their success.
“We are hopeful that the parties can resolve the issue quickly to ensure that John and Sheila receive the financial reward they are entitled to.”
Racing Victoria emphasized that they had transferred the prize money to a bank account registered with Laxon and Symons.
‘We cannot comment in detail as the matter may be subject to proceedings, but please note that Racing Victoria has paid out all Melbourne Cup prize money as required, including into the bank account on file with us for Ms Laxon and Mr Symons’ trainer award payments in Victoria,” a Racing Victoria spokesperson said in a statement.
‘We have offered to assist Ms Laxon and Mr Symons in recovering the money from what we have subsequently been told is their former account and remain willing to do so.
“But at this time they have not accepted that offer.”
Laxon and Symonds are on the Gold Coast this weekend ahead of the Magic Millions race day, with 25,000 punters expected to attend.