SA racing identity Todd David Balfour pleads guilty for drink driving in unregistered car

Well-known former horse trainer and jockey Todd Balfour has pleaded guilty to driving an unregistered vehicle while at almost three times the blood-alcohol limit.

A well-known racing identity has admitted driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle while almost three times the blood-alcohol limit.

Todd David Balfour, 43 – the son and brother of popular horsemen David and Ryan Balfour –

appeared in the Mt Barker Magistrates Court this week.

The former horse trainer and jockey pleaded guilty to driving with excess blood alcohol at Mt Barker at 12.43am on April 17.

The court heard police officers pulled over Balfour on Gawler St, where he returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.142 – almost three times the 0.05 limit.

Further investigations revealed the vehicle he was driving was unregistered, uninsured and carried incorrect number plates.

Police prosecutor Brevet Sergeant Fred Keal said Balfour had been issued an immediate six-month loss of licence.

“Police stopped the vehicle driven by the defendant, being an Isuzu ute … with Victorian registration (plates) being worn by the vehicle,” Brevet Sergeant Keal said.

Todd Balfour, right, with fellow trainer David Hayes at Sandown in 2016. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“The vehicle was found to be unregistered and uninsured and further checks with (the Transport Department) also showed that the Victorian registration of the vehicle was transferred on October 18, 2019 to an SA registration.

“(Balfour) said he consumed red wine and two vodkas prior to driving and had his first drink at about 8pm or 9pm.”

Balfour’s lawyer said her client was a racehorse trainer who had also worked as a jockey overseas and in Victoria.

She said Balfour had experienced “quite a lot of hardship” as a result of the loss of licence.

This, she said, had included financial loss and the requirement to rely on a third party to drive him to and from jobs.

She said Balfour took full responsibility for his actions and requested minimal penalties.

“He was born here in South Australia and also spent time overseas … as a racehorse trainer and racing horses himself,” the lawyer said.

“He hasn’t been working for some time and only recently regained employment on a part-time basis.

“It was his car and he has made full admission to police and has been quite open and frank with them.”

Magistrate Lynette Duncan convicted Balfour and issued him a $900 fine.

She ordered his licence remain suspended for six months from the date of the offence.