After receiving a lifetime ban from Greyhound racing and losing his kennel licence, a ‘notorious’ Tasmanian trainer also looks set to be stripped of his top ‘Trainer of the Year’ award.
Anthony Bullock has consistently claimed the ‘Leading Trainer’ title every year since 2014 and five times between 2008 and 2012, however, Independent MP Kristie Johnston wants them revoked.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Johnston asked Minister for Racing Felix Ellis whether he would “call on Tasracing to revoke his award” or if he would “continue to applaud someone who live baits and inflicts enormous cruelty upon animals”.
Minister Ellis said “animal cruelty makes [his] blood boil”, adding that the state government has already reached out to Tasracing about the removal of the award and “expect to be hearing back” soon.
“We don’t believe that it’s appropriate that someone with a lifetime ban should continue to keep that award and recognition,” Ellis said.
“Racing should be fair and it should be humane. And that is why animal baiting attracts a lifetime disqualification for anyone found doing it and that is exactly what has been handed down.”
Johnstone said she was “pleased to hear” that Ellis thought it was not appropriate for Bullock to keep the title and called on Tasracing to “immediately revoke the award”.
“The ball is in their court. Will they continue to stand by this trainer?” she said.
Tasracing are yet to comment on the matter.
