‘Misplaced attempt at humour’: Hasseltoff trainer Dick Leech fined $3000 over ‘getting held’ video comment

Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech has been fined $3000 for comments he made in a video in which he declared Darwin Cup candidate Hasseltoff would “held back” from trying to win a lead-up race last Saturday.

Trainer Dick Leech has been fined $3000 over comments he made about his Alice Springs Cup-winning gelding Hasseltoff, who is on a Darwin Cup path.

Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech has been fined $3000 for a “misplaced attempt at humour” in which he declared Darwin Cup candidate Hasseltoff would “held back” from trying to win a lead-up race last Saturday.

Leech made the prejudicial comments in a video update to owners of the last-start Alice Springs Cup-winning gelding, previously trained in Victoria.

“He’ll go around next Saturday in the 1300m … but we’ll only be going for a look,” Leech told owners.

“We’ll get beat … we gotta get beat then we’ll go for the Chief Minister’s (Cup) a fortnight later, mile.

“We got to win that and then on towards the (Darwin) Cup but going quite good.”

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A person behind the camera then asked Leech, “all right, so hopefully the jockey can hold him?”

“Yeah, yeah, he will be getting held,” Leech smirked.

“The worst jockey in Australia put on him.”

Northern Territory stewards obtained the leaked video update last Thursday.

Leech faced NT stewards last Friday and pleaded guilty to a single charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity, or welfare of racing.

"Yeah, yeah, he will be getting held."

Alice Springs trainer Dick Leech has been charged with conduct prejudicial for comments made in a leaked video about a top Darwin Cup-bound candidate in a lead-up race on Saturday.https://t.co/FWOl7VjlHj

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 27, 2025

• Exiled trainer Darren Weir loses appeal against terms of disqualification

“Mr Leech was provided the opportunity to explain the comments made in the interview,” NT stewards said in a report published on Monday.

“He clarified that he was attempting to indicate that in his opinion, whilst Hasseltoff was commencing this preparation over 1300m, the gelding would be more suited to racing over an increased distance and that his comments were the result of his misplaced attempt at humour.

“In hindsight, he acknowledged the inappropriateness of the comments and was remorseful for what had transpired.”

NT stewards considered the “seriousness” and “circumstances” of Leech’s conduct in the decision on penalty.

Hasseltoff breaks the Alice Springs track record as he takes out the Alice Springs cup. 7 wins from past 9 starts. Congrats to all. pic.twitter.com/ZjZB4zyQUd

— ATBloodstock (@ATBloodstock) April 6, 2025

Hasseltoff was nominated for the ROANT Cup (Div 2) 1300m last Saturday when the video was recorded at Leech’s stable on June 20.

Hasseltoff was accepted for the race last Wednesday and scratched the following day.

Leech advised stewards last Thursday the gelding pulled up lame from a gallop and would be withdrawn from the race as a result.

“The fact that Hasseltoff was scratched from the event avoided further potentially negative inference about the comments,” the NT stewards report noted.

Leech received a $3000 fine on Monday, partly suspended ($1000) for two years.

Originally published as ‘Misplaced attempt at humour’: Hasseltoff trainer Dick Leech fined $3000 over ‘getting held’ video comment