Ripped Off

A millionaire businessman yesterday accused stud farm owners of ‘flogging a dead horse’ for charging him thousands for an animal that had died.

Michael White, 67, decided to indulge his passion for horse racing by investing in the business of Paul Mason, 50, the son of legendary trainer and champion speedway driver Ron Mason.

But Mr White claims that instead of breeding a series of winners for him, Mr Mason, who had interests in some of the country’s top horses including a Derby winner, ripped him off.

He says Mr Mason, who ran the business with his ex-wife, Rachel, 48, billed him around £212,000 for the upkeep of horses he never bought.

He claims he sold others and pocketed the cash without telling him and charged him livery, vets and blacksmith’s fees for Queen’s Fantasy – which was dead.

Thomas Brudenell, for Mr White, told the High Court that in August 2009 the couple refused to allow Mr White to take his horses out of their stables, claiming he owed them fees.

‘In relation to Queen’s Fantasy, we were told she was too ill to move and had been put down that day,’ he said.

‘We made enquiries at the local knacker’s yard as to whether that was the case. They made it clear that they had not destroyed the mare.

‘We made further enquiries and obtained evidence that the horse had in fact been put down on December 18, 2008.

‘Invoices were raised in relation to Queen’s Fantasy after her destruction. Throughout the early part of 2009, and up until August 2009, they (the Masons) claimed livery charges, expenses and wormer in respect of a horse that was dead.

‘They also claimed for a blacksmith and medicine in respect of a horse that was dead. We paid a total of £3,500 for keep for Queen’s Fantasy between the date of her death and the date the defendants said she died.
Chasing a winner: Racehorse High Chaparral

Chasing a winner: Racehorse High Chaparral

‘This is a sequence of events which is indicative of the underhand way that the defendants operated.’

The court heard that Mr White, the owner of multi-million pound packaging business Dalepak, first invested in the Masons’ stud farm in September 2007.

He eventually owned or part-owned several horses at their stables in Staverton, near Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Mr Brudenell told the court that by the end of last year the Masons had interests in several high profile racehorses, including the 2002 Derby Winner turned stud, High Chaparral.

But the couple’s dreams of breeding a successful racehorse faltered when sufficient winners and investors in their bloodstock failed to materialise, he added.

Mr White withdrew his financial support from the stud business in June last year and Mr Mason was declared bankrupt in August this year.

Robert Willer, for Mrs Mason, told the court that she had agreed to pay back Mr White the money for the dead horse.

But he said she denied any horses had been sold without Mr White’s permission. In a counter-claim Mrs Mason, who is divorcing her husband after 28 years of marriage, said Mr White owed the couple £40,000 in unpaid bills relating to three other horses.

She told the court that his failure to pay effectively led to the ‘disintegration’ of the £1.2million business the couple once ran.

But Mr Brudenell said Mr White denied owing the cash.

Instead, he claimed he was being asked to pay for the upkeep of mares which he had never bought or had any connection with.

The hearing continues.

@cnc:

Memories of our one-time ex-trainer who would bill patrons for shoeing, vet costs, nominations, etc.... whilst the horse was on a spelling farm!

Then, charged keep for a horse that died 6 months on!

We received a farrier's bill for a colt (charge reflected on the statement for every month without fail); when we picked him up, he had no shoes whatsoever (he had not even been given the compulsory Flu or AHS dosage!) In fact, his hooves were infected (some medical term) and there was no evidence of him ever being shod, let alone shoed. This rendered him permanently lame; we gave him away!

There were stories about how he would go about 'breaking in' a horse. Place a hood over the head, ask a groom to sit on it; if he started bucking, then whip the hell out of him until he stops! Between 70-80% of his horses gave trouble at the start; yet, nobody asked questions!

Forget also the hundreds of owners who were taken for a ride by being promised a July propsect (every horse in the yard was a July candidate!)! Patrons were asked to put down money on a horse as a certainty; it would trail in unplaced!

There are innocent, people (that were enticed) who lost their entire assets/money/businesses going on the promises of this trainer of a pie in the sky!

You get them all over!