RIP Happy Winner: a used car may have been given more consideration

Racing NSW stewards have found trainer Joanne Hardy guilty of actions which likely led to the death of three year old gelding, Happy Winner.

Happy Winner suffered an injury to his off fore superficial digital flexor tendon and required a recovery period and rehabilitation program. Ms Hardy failed to disclose this information both when advertising him for sale and to the subsequent buyer – another industry trainer Brett Robb. Mr Robb put Happy Winner into a “work program” that was contrary to the recovery period and/or rehabilitation program he required before he suffered a catastrophic injury to both fore superficial digital flexor tendons and was euthanased.

Ms Hardy paid $15,000 for Happy Winner in March 2021. By April she was aware of the injury and by June he was listed for sale. She never made a cent from him before he was injured and presumably wanted to recuperate her costs. Happy Winner was treated more like a used car than a living being, which should never surprise in an industry that uses animals for profits.

Joanne Hardy has been suspended for eight months for her actions, plus an additional two months for providing misleading evidence to stewards.

Full report available here.