Gai Waterhouse says her family made out to be 'criminals' in More Joyous inquiry Gai Waterhouse leaves the More Joyous inquiry. Picture: John Fotiadis Source: The Daily Telegraph GAI Waterhouse gave a revealing insight into the emotional toll the More Joyous inquiry has taken on her after she was hit with fines totalling $5500 by Racing NSW stewards yesterday. "You have treated me like a third-grade person," Waterhouse said. I have had to put up with abuse, my family has been dragged through the mud and mire, and made out to be 'criminals'. I think this (inquiry) has been extremely unfair. If there was anything wrong with the mare, I would have told you. I'm not trying to deceive. It is not in my nature. Despite vehemently protesting her innocence, Waterhouse was found guilty of two charges relating to the fitness and treatment of champion mare More Joyous. Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy issued a $5000 fine on the more serious charge of failing to report to stewards any condition which may have affected More Joyous's performance in the All Aged Stakes, and an additional $500 for failing to keep an accurate treatment log.The More Joyous affair has been the most controversial stewards inquiry in Sydney racing since the Jockey Tapes scandal in 1995. Waterhouse told the inquiry that the unprecedented media coverage of the stewards inquiry into More Joyous's All Aged Stakes flop at Randwick on April 27 had even reached as far as Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who races Carlton House with the trainer in Australia. "Even the Queen said to her racing manager (John Warren), 'what is going on with Gai Waterhouse in Australia?'," she said. This has been really shoddy, embarrassing for racing. Despite reaching a conclusion yesterday, there were more sensational, headline-grabbing claims during the stewards inquiry, including: WATERHOUSE said it is not unusual for horses to race with minor problems and others horses in her stable have had "management issues" before recent wins, including Queenstown, Porcellanus, Rockafellacentre, Cosmic Endeavour and Whittington; STEWARDS may launch a new inquiry after learning More Joyous had some lameness five days before her unplaced run in the Queen of the Turf Stakes earlier in the autumn carnival; WATERHOUSE said she was disappointed with the stewards' findings and is considering whether to appeal against the findings; and STEWARDS haven't ruled out penalising brothel owner Eddie Hayson for failing to provide information about the identity of two sources who told him of More Joyous's fitness problems. Murrihy reminded Waterhouse that under the rules of racing she had a responsibility to inform stewards that More Joyous had "soreness and sensitivity" in the neck area in the lead-up to the All Aged Stakes.Waterhouse said she had taken heed of expert advice from two veterinarians before deciding to run More Joyous. "I have to make decisions like that every day of my life," she said. I have 130 horses in my care and I'm not going to let them start if they may not run well. I want them to win. I'm not some hick from the bush, I'm qualified with what I do and I'm a horse person from head to toe. Murrihy countered Waterhouse's argument by declaring: "Stewards take advice from vets and stables and are the final arbiters of whether a horse should run. If there are matters leading up to a race, those matters must be aired for public release, irrespective of whether or not the stewards let the horse start. There were far too many triggers for a reasonable trainer of your experience to ignore your requirements under the rules of racing to inform stewards of the mare's condition.