29/05/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FdejgpQ8o/?mibextid=wwXIfr
You might think that the conducts of this “bad apple” would as a bare minimum result in disqualification of their apprenticeship. But no. Not while the racing industry is allowed to regulate itself. NSW jockey apprentice Shae Wilkes, the daughter of racehorse trainer Wayne Wilkes, can pick up where she left off after 8 months suspension.
In fact, if she chooses to undertake anger management counselling, she will be let off with just 6 months suspension. Of course, she only needs counselling if she wants to.
According to the RNSW Stewards panel, “The offending (of Ms Wilkes) is properly characterised as serious and sustained misconduct, occurring across multiple occasions, involving different horses and industry participants, and spanning a substantial period.”
While she was under supervision of her father, in addition to harassing human colleagues, Wilkes was found guilty of:
1️⃣
kicking a horse with her right foot on multiple occasions impacting the near side abdominal area. She held the horse under the head collar as she continuously kicked the horse for an estimated period of 1-2 minutes.
2️⃣
flipping a whip upside down and while standing in the irons, struck the horse in the neck area with the rubber handle impacting the neck area on more than one occasion.
3️⃣
yanking on the reins in an excessive manner and striking the gelding to the near side neck with a black padded whip on three occasions. As the horse moved forward, Miss Wilkes continued to yank on the reins in an excessive manner and kicked the horse with her right foot impacting the near side abdominal area.
4️⃣
using her knee to strike the horse on approximately two occasions impacting the near side abdominal area.
5️⃣
kicking the horse with her right foot impacting the near side flank area. Miss Wilkes used a hose on two occasions to strike the horse across the back causing the horse to move backwards.
6️⃣
yell and scream at the horse using words to the effect of “retard” and “spastic.” Miss Wilkes did engage in improper conduct by kicking the horse on multiple times with her foot causing the horse to move backwards in its box.
7️⃣
riding past a female industry participant to her inside and using her whip to strike the offside shoulder of the horse the female participant was riding causing her horse to throw its head up and move forward abruptly.
8️⃣
holding a lead and striking a chestnut thoroughbred horse over the head with a whip as it ran backwards away from her. Miss Wilkes continued to strike the horse over the head and front legs as it ran backwards.
9️⃣
reefing the reins from the hands of a female industry participant with her left hand and with her right closed fist punched the horse impacting the near side abdominal area. The force of the punch caused the horse to heave and move sideways.
🍎 If you still need more racing industry “bad apples” to realise that it is in fact the entire tree that is infected, please take a look at the stewards’ inquiries across the country.
