A renowned horse racing jockey is under scrutiny following the emergence of a video showing him making racist remarks in a public setting. Noel Callow, known as ‘the King’, boasts a remarkable career with over 2,000 victories, including five at the prestigious Group 1 level, amassing earnings exceeding £20 million in Australia.
Callow has recently been embroiled in controversy, serving a two-month suspension after sustaining a concussion during a physical altercation with another jockey that he initiated in May of this year. The Australian racing outlet Racenet reported that footage, believed to have been recorded last year, is currently under review by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission.
According to a spokesperson from QRIC, the Commission is actively investigating a video that was brought to their attention recently. Racenet has obtained and viewed two clips, one of which captures Callow engaging with an indigenous man, making offensive remarks about hygiene.
In the video, the man discloses his lack of employment and housing situation, declining Callow’s offer of food and expressing a desire for a beer instead. Callow is heard suggesting the man take a shower before he would consider buying him a beer, to which the man explains the absence of suitable facilities in the area.
The situation escalates as Callow urges the man to bathe in a nearby creek, using profane language. In a separate clip, Callow, carrying a whip while riding a bike, makes derogatory comments towards pedestrians on the footpath, drawing criticism for his offensive language.
These incidents have sparked public outrage and an official investigation into Callow’s behavior.