The failure to maintain updated bank details has resulted in Melbourne Cup prizemoney intended for winning trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon being deposited into the wrong account.
Racing Victoria (RV) and the Australian Trainers’ Association are now assisting the Queensland-based trainers after $464,000, which was due to them, was mistakenly transferred into an outdated account.
Racing.com has reported that the bank details on file with RV had not been updated by the stable, causing the funds to be deposited into an account belonging to a former associate. While the stable had updated their bank details in other jurisdictions, they had overlooked doing so in Victoria.
Although Symons and Laxon received other prizemoney earlier in the spring, the issue only came to light when the Melbourne Cup winnings failed to appear in their account.
In a statement, RV confirmed it has offered to help the trainers recover the funds but noted that the offer has not yet been accepted.
“We are not able to comment in any detail given that the matter may be subject to proceedings, however, note that Racing Victoria has paid out all Melbourne Cup prizemoney as required, including to the bank account registered with us for Ms Laxon and Mr Symons’ trainer prizemoney payments in Victoria,” an RV statement read.
“We have offered to assist Ms Laxon and Mr Symons in recovering the money from what we have subsequently been advised is their former account and remain willing to do so, but at this time they have not accepted that offer.”