General News
23 January, 2026
RSPCA, Racing NSW investigate racehorse death at a Maryborough property
The RSPCA and Racing NSW are investigating the death of a racehorse at a Maryborough property earlier this month, amid allegations of ongoing neglect and cruelty.
Brian Carey, known to be affiliated with the property and a Racing NSW member, has had his licence suspended following a breach of the peak body’s Rules of Racing.
Racing NSW have confirmed they are investigating the death of thoroughbred racehorse City Limits at the property on Maryborough’s outskirts on January 14.
The RSPCA have also launched an investigation into alleged abuse of horses at the address associated with Mr Carey, RSPCA inspectorate team leader for the south west region Shannon Walsh confirmed.
“RSPCA Victoria inspectors recently attended a property outside Maryborough with representative from Racing Victoria and Harness Racing Victoria in response to a report of animal cruelty,” she said.
“This matter is an active investigation for RSPCA Victoria, and no further information is available at this time.”
It is alleged Mr Carey brought City Limits to the property in November last year, after it sustained an injury.
Upon arrival, the horse was rugged and thin from a period of racing.
“It was only there for eight weeks, and to be fair, I couldn’t see its real condition because of the rug,” nearby resident Lisa Simpson said.
“A couple of weeks ago, we had those 40 degree days ... and it died.
“It was rugged the whole time. It was a cotton rug, but it was still a rug.
“When it died, my husband went over to make sure it was actually dead, and the baths were bone dry empty.”
Ms Simpson was unaware of how much City Limits’ health deteriorated until the rug was removed.
“That’s when I saw it was in the condition it was in. I was screaming,” she said.
“After that, it has all been a bit of a blur, because I have been pretty distraught. So it has gone to all of the authorities.”
This incident follows previous accounts of RSPCA involvement at the property.
One of these incidents arose when Ms Simpson first witnessed a mare that was continously rugged.
“It looked very skinny ... it was rugged heavily throughout summer. The rug never got taken off. I reported it to the RSPCA numerous times,” she said.
“Eventually, the RSPCA did come out, and the result was, they took its rug off.
“Then we were able to see its condition ... and we could see it was skin and bone.
“The RSPCA did come to the property ... possibly three or four times since.
“Obviously, it must have been fed sometimes, or it would have died a long time ago. I did notice on occasion, the man putting food in its bucket, but I had never seen them ever eat hay or foliage, which is what horses need, especially when there is no grass ... I would just drive by that horse everyday and see the bones sticking out from its rug.”
According to the Victorian Government’s Animal Welfare code, horses must be provided with a diet of sufficient quantity and quality of food and must not be deprived of access to food or water for more than 24 hours.
This code also states rugging must be appropriate for weather conditions, and be removed at least weekly to allow for assessment of health condition.
Ms Simpson told The Maryborough District Advertiser, she was later alerted by harness drivers attending the property that there was a stallion with no water.
“I noticed that horse as well was very skinny, again it was covered up with a cotton rug ... never saw it be fed, the fences were all bent over really bad from where it was trying to reach for food,” she said.
“Eventually that horse died.”
These investigations also come after Ms Simpson alerted multiple levels of government and authority on the matter, including the RSPCA, Harness Racing Victoria, Racing Victoria, local police, Central Goldfields Shire Council, Racing NSW and Ripon MP Martha Haylett, who then escalated the case to the relevant minister.
It is understood another horse showing signs of neglect has been moved from the property since word spread of the allegations.
A hearing will take place on February 11, 2026 at Racing NSW Head Office.
Mr Carey was contacted but declined to comment.