Annette Sharp: Post sheds new light on bitter end of Chynna Marston and John Scorse

A cryptic social media post from Sky Racing’s Chynna Marston has shone light on mystery allegations that ended the TV commentary career of veteran tipster John Scorse, writes Annette Sharp.

Sky Racing’s Chynna Marston. Picture: Instagram

A cryptic but pointed social media post from Sky Racing commentator Chynna Marston has shone a light on mystery allegations that ended the TV commentary career of veteran tipster and presenter John Scorse.

The retired Group 1 jockey was dismissed from Tabcorp’s broadcasting division in August following two separate investigations allegedly triggered by a complaint from Marston, whose commentary career Scorse had helped guide for five years.

While neither Scorse nor his lawyer Nick Chadwick, of Chadwick Workplace Law, could be reached for comment on Saturday, racing industry sources say Scorse’s TV career was brought unstuck when Marston went to her Tabcorp bosses to allege Scorse had breached workplace protocol on three separate occasions.

Sky Racing commentators John Scorse and Chynna Marston. Picture: Instagram

The first of these, this column understands, took place in 2018 and involved Scorse drinking a beer while the pair were driving home together in a car from a regional race meeting. It is not suggested that Scorse was driving.

The second is said to have involved a complaint about Scorse smoking a cigarette at a separate country meeting between racing commentary segments.

Smoking is banned at racetracks.

The third, more serious, allegation is said to have prompted a second investigation by Tabcorp after an initial investigation was deemed inconclusive.

The second investigation is said to have also produced no material evidence concerning the third allegation.

Marston is personally understood to have supplied photographic or video evidence of incidents one and two.

Chynna Marston’s cryptic Instagram post.

News of Scorse’s sacking has been a well-kept secret within racing circles for past six months, but was pushed into the public domain more recently after Marston published a cryptic post to Instagram.

Without identifying the subject of the post, Marston wrote: “The same people that did you wrong are telling a different version of the story and they’re playing the victim.”

Scorse’s faithful fans interpreted the post as Marston having a dig at 60-year-old Scorse, who is the father of jockey Patrick.

According to insiders, Marston became annoyed in April of 2021 when her Sky Racing bosses assigned her to a reduced role on Sky’s South East and Southern Districts racing coverage.

She had previously been co-host alongside Scorse.

Insiders say Marston may have believed Scorse was responsible for her demotion, as his role on the program simultaneously expanded.

Attempts to reach Sky Racing talent manager Leith Mulligan, Scorse and Marston’s long-time boss, proved unsuccessful yesterday.

It transpires Mulligan also abruptly left Tabcorp in recent months.

John Vellis, Tabcorp general manager of media, sponsorships and Sky Thoroughbred Central, declined to comment when approached yesterday.

A Tabcorp spokesman refused to address specific questions from this reporter, saying only: “John Scorse hasn’t worked for Sky Racing since August last year.”

In 2014 Marston made headlines when her dream of becoming a jockey was derailed when the then 23-year-old apprentice fractured her neck in a fall from her mount, Zarababe, in the 1000m Wynyard Hotel maiden plate at Tumut racecourse.

Two years later Sky Racing came calling with an offer that would open the door to a broadcasting career alongside Scorse, with whom she would work and travel for up to 12 hours a day as the pair attended country race meetings in far-flung regional centres, including Canberra, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Moruya and the Sapphire Coast.

Scorse is now working as a tipster for a corporate bookmaker.

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