Exclusive: agent accused of fraud after collecting training fees for dead horse

A bloodstock agent withheld the news a syndicate's horse had suffered a fatal injury in training until its owners had sent him thousands of pounds in training fees, it has been alleged.

Gary Woods, 39, founder of Empire International Bloodstock, has been accused by the syndicate of defrauding it last year. The owners claim Woods repeatedly misled them and neglected to use funds for the purpose they believed was intended, culminating in the failure to inform them their horse had died until after he had collected £6,000, supposedly required to complete the syndicate's registration with France Galop, the French regulator.

France Galop says it has no record of any attempt to register the syndicate and does not require prospective owners to lodge training fees in advance.