EXCLUSIVE: Melbourne Cup-winning trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon dudded in $464,000 prizemoney payment bungle

The fairytale Melbourne Cup win by Knight’s Choice has taken yet another turn, with trainers John Symons and Shiela Laxon still chasing their near half-a-million dollar share of the winnings in an incredible administrative bungle.

An administrative bungle has soured Knight’s Choice’s fairytale victory in the $8.5m Melbourne Cup, with trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon still chasing their share of prizemoney from the famous victory.

Racenet can exclusively reveal racing officials, along with Symons and Laxon, are desperately scrambling to rectify the situation after their $464,000 cut for the race that stops the nation was paid into an old bank account that they no longer use.

It is understood the bank account is held in the name of a former associate.

When contacted at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast this week, Symons and Laxon declined to comment for legal reasons.

Jockey Robbie Dolan, along with the owners of Knight’s Choice, were paid their percentages of prizemoney last month.

Now based on the Sunshine Coast, Symons and Laxon updated their bank details several years ago and have been paid correctly by Racing Queensland since making the move north from Victoria.

While their details are correct in Queensland, it is understood Racing Australia still had an old profile with the incorrect bank account, which could be accessed on the back end of their site, which Racing Victoria used to pay the money last month.

Lawyers have since been engaged over the matter.

Symons and Laxon are also working with the Australian Trainers’ Association in an attempt to recover the funds, which is around the $500,000 mark after adding on other additional payments from running minor placings in Victoria.

Sheila Laxon and John Symons with 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images.

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“John and Sheila raised this matter with the ATA Queensland a few weeks ago when the prizemoney payment error was first recognised,” Queensland ATA representative Cameron Partington said.

“In turn, I involved the federal ATA office and CEO Stephen Bell given Racing Victoria’s role here in being responsible for Melbourne Cup prize money payments and the significance of the issue.

“In the last week, the ATA at both state and Federal levels have been in constant dialogue with John, Sheila, and both Racing Queensland and Racing Victoria, encouraging all parties to work together to resolve the error.

“It’s an extremely unfortunate situation that no doubt is causing John and Sheila enormous stress at a time when they should be still basking in the celebration of their success.

“We are hopeful the parties can resolve the issue quickly to ensure John and Sheila receive the financial reward they deserve and are entitled to.”

Sheila Laxon
Two Melbourne Cup runners 🏇 🏇
Two wins 🏆 🏆
23 years apart pic.twitter.com/gi3XtBMiDH

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 5, 2024

Laxon is a Melbourne Cup legend, having first won the race with Ethereal in 2001. She is also Melbourne Cup ambassador.

The pair have gone to great lengths to promote the Melbourne Cup, with Symons doing a tour around Victoria with the trophy following their win.

Symons, who once trained the great sprinter Bel Esprit, was given just three months to live in 2019 due to cancer.

After a remarkable fightback, Symons has recently had scans and been given the all clear.

Originally published as EXCLUSIVE: Melbourne Cup-winning trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon dudded in $464,000 prizemoney payment bungle