A horse racing trainer in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, was recently disqualified after a confrontation with a racing official during an inspection. Garry Lunn, a seasoned trainer with a successful track record, had a heated exchange with steward Xavier Dalton, where he directed disrespectful and offensive comments towards Dalton, questioning his competence. The incident occurred during a stable audit inspection, where discrepancies in stable return records were identified.
Lunn, who has a history of training numerous winning horses, including a significant number at the local Dubbo racecourse, faced charges of obstructing and hindering Dalton from performing his duties and engaging in improper and insulting behavior. Despite denying the accusations, Lunn was found guilty on both counts. As a result, he received a three-month disqualification for the first offense and a nine-month disqualification for the second offense, with the penalties running concurrently from November 14, 2025, to August 14, 2026.
The altercation escalated to the point where Lunn followed Dalton to his vehicle, continuing to berate him with profanity-laden remarks. The incident was documented in a RacingNSW inquiry report, highlighting Lunn’s aggressive and inappropriate behavior towards the racing steward.