The horse racing interests owned by the family of former mining billionaire Nathan Tinkler are being targeted by debt collectors who claim their clients are out of pocket by almost $500,000.
Thoroughbred Recoveries, a debt collection agency specialising in the industry, confirmed it was pursuing $321,000 for five clients including trainers and other equine services. “If or when people are ultimately paid, it is often after months or even years of pursuing them, incurring enormous costs retaining lawyers, damaging their own cash flow and often finally doing a deal on the amount due so that all profit is lost for the business.
Horse trainer Brett Dodson , a text message exchange between him and Nathan Tinkler , who Dodson says owes him money. “We need money … it’s not just daily training fees, it’s what he’s cost me [in veterinary fees],” said Mr Dodson, who trained several horses for the Tinkler family.Wayne Wilkes, a trainer who is not a client of Thoroughbred Recoveries, claims to be owed about $80,000 for work on nine horses owned by Serene Lodge.“They’d always promise next week, then next week but the money wouldn’t turn up. For a small business, it’s very hard. I still have to pay my bills as well.
"Nevertheless, arrangements are being made to resolve all of the outstanding debts and our client expects that process to be completed over the coming weeks," Mr Briggs said.Text message exchanges between Nathan Tinkler and various trainers over the past two years, however, show worries about paying bills were disrupting the business relationships.