Top jockeys are filmed racing cane toads at a Queensland pub when they should have been following Sydney lockdown rules
- Hugh Bowman and James McDonald have been filmed cane toad racing in QLD
- The pair flew to QLD from Sydney on June 23 – hours before its borders closed
- Under QLD rules, anyone who arrived from Sydney had to isolate for 14 days
- A video posted on Twitter showed the duo at a Port Douglas pub on Thursday
- NSW racing stewards are investigating the matter – QLD police making enquiries
Two of Australia’s top jockeys appear to have breached Covid restrictions by racing cane toads at a Queensland pub while subject to Sydney lcokdown rules.
Hugh Bowman and James McDonald are being investigated by racing NSW stewards after they were spotted out in Port Douglas on Thursday night.
The pair competed at Sydney’s Canterbury race meeting on June 23 before flying to Queensland that night – arriving just hours before the state closed its borders to Harbour City residents.
Under Queensland Government rules, anyone who had arrived in the state from Sydney since June 21 is required to isolate for 14 days.
James McDonald and his partner Channel 7 presenter Katelyn Mallyon (pictured) were filmed at a cane toad racing event at a Port Douglas pub on Thursday night
McDonald and Bowman (pictured with his wife Christine) are now being invested by NSW racing stewards over a potential breach of Covid regulations
But Bowman, McDonald, and his Channel 7 presenter girlfriend Katelyn Mallyon, attended a cane toad racing event at Hemingway’s Brewery on July 1.
Also at the pub was Sydney socialite Kate Waterhouse and her ex-NRL star husband Luke Ricketson.
Footage of McDonald and Bowman blowing party horns at toads to make them jump was later posted to Twitter by bookmaker Rob Waterhouse, Kate’s father.
The video was deleted minutes later, but had already been obtained by A Current Affair , sparking a probe into whether health directives had been breached.
Mr Waterhouse, and his wife horse trainer Gai Waterhouse, appeared to have entered the holiday town on June 20, according to social media posts, meaning they were not under stay-at-home conditions.
It remains unclear when Ms Mallyon arrived in the state and whether she was subject to isolation requirements.
Queensland Health told the publication in a statement it had not received any exemption requests from the two horse riders.
Footage of the two jockeys at the event (pictured) was posted on Twitter, before it was swiftly deleted
Queensland Police and NSW racing stewards are now making enquiries to determine if any regulations have been violated.
‘The Queensland Police Service is aware of the incident and is currently making inquiries,’ police said.
Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel confirmed the matter was under investigation, saying the jockeys could face further action once they returned to Sydney.
‘They’re up there at the moment and they’re obviously subject to the Queensland authorities and whatever they decide to do,’ Van Gestel told the Courier Mail.
‘It’s obviously disappointing.
‘They left on the 23rd and the Queensland orders were that anyone that had been in Greater Sydney from the 21st had to self isolate for 14 days.’
Bowman is known for riding champion mare Winx, while McDonald is Australia’s number one ranked jockey.
The duo were due to race at the Eagle Farm meeting in Brisbane on June 26, which was cancelled after the city’s Covid outbreak.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for further comment.