A horse racing trainer in Dubbo, Australia, has been disqualified after engaging in a verbal altercation with a racing steward. Garry Lunn, a seasoned trainer with a track record of over 500 wins, including more than 100 at the Dubbo racecourse, faced disciplinary action following an incident during a stable audit inspection.
During the inspection conducted by RacingNSW officials, discrepancies in stable return records were identified. Subsequently, when steward Xavier Dalton returned for a follow-up inspection the next month, Lunn’s behavior turned hostile. He reportedly made derogatory and offensive remarks towards Dalton, including calling him the “dopiest steward” and using profanity.
The situation escalated as Lunn continued to verbally harass Dalton even after he attempted to leave the premises. Lunn persistently questioned Dalton’s professionalism and obstructed him from carrying out his duties. As a result, Lunn was charged with hindering Dalton and engaging in improper behavior towards a racing steward.
Although Lunn denied the allegations, he was found guilty of both charges. He received a three-month disqualification for obstructing Dalton and a nine-month disqualification for his aggressive conduct. The disqualification period is set to run concurrently from November 14, 2025, to August 14, 2026.
