Racing trainer investigated for using slurs on social media says he ‘spoke the truth’

A racing trainer being investigated by Racing Victoria stewards for using the terms “retard” and “poof” in social media posts says he “spoke the truth” and stands by his comments.

The posts first appeared on the X account of the father-and-son Hulbert Racing after their horse was scratched from Saturday’s Caulfield meeting because of a traffic jam caused by a series of crashes.

The first involved an allegedly stolen Mazda that hit a Mercedes on the Monash Freeway at Endeavour Hills in Melbourne’s south-east, leaving the female driver of the Mercedes in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Up to eight teenage boys fled the stolen car, with one of them – a 15-year-old – arrested by police after a citizen’s arrest.

As police responded to that crash, they noticed a Nissan parked in the emergency lane of the freeway, but it sped off as they attempted to intercept it, eventually colliding with six cars before the driver and passenger got out and fled on foot.

Hulbert Racing is based in Brisbane and run by Peter Hulbert and his son Will. Their two-year-old filly Lady Of Five was scratched from the $250,000 group 3 Blue Diamond Preview by stewards on Saturday because the horse did not arrive at the course on time.

The filly had been flown down from Brisbane and was being stabled at Pakenham.

“Lady Of Five is fine guys,” Hulbert Racing posted on its X account on Saturday afternoon.

“We allowed two hours for a 50-minute trip to Caulfield and some retard crashed on the highway and stuffed everything.

“She will have a jump out Tuesday at Pakenham and race next weekend at Caulfield in the 1000m group 3 chairman’s.”

Hulbert Racing then posted a follow-up message on their social media platform, saying: “They’re everywhere … might go and jump in a machete bin, so I don’t call anyone a poof.”

When contacted for comment, Will Hubert told this masthead, “I spoke the truth and stand by my comments”.

“Next time a bunch of teens steal a car and someone dies, let me know how their family feels about the teens being called retards,” he sent via a text message.

While Hulbert admitted using the word “poof” in a follow-up post, he said it was not aimed at a specific person.

Racing Victoria stewards confirmed that the social media posts were brought to their attention during Saturday’s race meeting. They have adjourned an inquiry until Monday.

“Stewards have not been able to speak with the stable at this stage but will look to conclude (our investigation) as soon as possible,” a stewards statement said.

Trainers have been fined in Victoria in the past for comments made on social media that are deemed prejudicial to the image, interests and welfare of racing.

A VicTraffic post on X soon after 11am announced that all inbound lanes of the Monash Freeway were being held at Belgrave-Hallam Road because of a police incident.

“Consider exiting and taking the Princes Highway then South Gippsland Freeway back to the Monash Freeway,” the post said.

The in-bound lanes were later opened after midday, easing delays.

Caulfield races were brought forward to an 11.20am start on Saturday to avoid the extreme heat later in the afternoon.

The third race started at 12.20pm but Hulbert Racing was unable to get outsider Lady Of Five to the track by an 11.50am deadline extension. The Lindsay Park-trained La Gitana was also caught up in the Monash Freeway incident and scratched from the same event.

The 1000-metre race was won by the 23-1 Greg Eurell-trained outsider Rubi’s Choice, while the blue diamond preview for colts and geldings was one by favourite Alibaba, trained by Ken and Kasey Keys.

The feature race of the day, the group 3 1200m Manfred Stakes was taken out by Space Rider, a three-year-old Zoustar colt ridden by Ethan Brown and trained by Mick Price and Mick Kent jnr.

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