Racing Victoria have banned a farrier after he pleaded guilty to sexually harassing two women, including a licensed trainer.
Umesh Joseph was charged over a number of inappropriate messages he sent over Facebook Messenger to a licensed trainer in August 2025.
He was also charged over messages sent to a registered stable employee between May and July 2025.
Joseph initially denied sending the messages to Stewards, blaming a mystery third person.
According to Racing Victoria, Joseph ‘’participated in an interview with the Stewards, during which he provided false evidence, denying that it was him using his Facebook Messenger account to send the messages of concern and stating an unknown third party had accessed his account to send messages’’.
Stewards subsequently laid a third charge on Joseph for providing misleading evidence.
Joseph pleaded guilty to misconduct in that he engaged ‘’in sexual harassment of a person employed, engaged in or participating in the racing industry’’.
He also admitted to misleading Stewards with his initial evidence.
In banning Joseph for 12 months, Stewards noted ‘’his lack of empathy toward the affected women and his prior record.’’
Joseph received a six month ban for each misconduct charge and 3 months for misleading Stewards, which he will serve concurrently alongside the more serious offences.
‘’In considering an appropriate penalty, the Stewards considered verbal submissions from Mr Joseph, including but not limited to, his current employment, personal circumstances, the serious nature of the conduct, the lack of empathy Mr Joseph displayed to the affected persons, and his record,’’ Racing Victoria said.
‘’In all the circumstances, including the participant’s guilty pleas, the Stewards determined that a significant period of disqualification was warranted, having regard to the seriousness of the conduct, that this type of conduct is not acceptable and has no place in the racing industry, and the importance of specific and general deterrence.”
‘’Accordingly, the Stewards imposed a period of disqualification on Mr Joseph of a total period of 12 months. Subject to the participant’s right of appeal, this period of disqualification commenced immediately and will expire on 20 May 2027.’’
