Varenne seed scandal, two entrepreneurs investigated for fraud

Turin. Varenne, the legendary multiple-time trotter, is at the center of an investigation by the Turin Prosecutor's Office into an alleged scam involving the trade of his semen.

According to the prosecution, two entrepreneurs, Walter Ferrero e Salvatore Roberto Brischetto, would have acted alone in the sale of Varenne's semen, excluding the legitimate owners of the horse, the Neapolitan company Varenne Futurity.

Ferrero, sole director of Varenne Forever, and Brischetto, owner of the Il Grifone breeding farm in Vigone (Turin), where Varenne was hosted, allegedly illegally pocketed the proceeds from the sale of the semen, quantified at approximately two hundred thousand euros for the breeding season only 2018.

Investigation started in 2019

The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed in 2019 by Varenne Futurity, which raised concerns about the irregular sale of Varenne semen.

It is estimated that they are thousands of foals born from illegally sold semen in Italy and abroad, who cannot be recognized as children of Varenne by their legitimate owners.

The accusation against Ferrero and Brischetto is of aggravated scam, as they would have acted "presenting themselves as owners of the stallion" and entering into sales contracts with breeders without the consent of the Varenne Futurity.

In addition to the economic damage for the company that owns the horse, the investigation also hypothesizes damage for the breeders who have purchased Varenne seed in good faith, who find themselves with foals without a complete pedigree.

The suspects deny the accusations

The defendants, defended by lawyers Enrico Calabrese and Rodolfo Ricca, reject the charges and are preparing to defend themselves in court.

The Varenne case represents a severe blow to the Italian horse racing world and highlights the need for stricter controls on the marketing of semen from high-value horses.

The repercussions of this affair could be significant, not only from a criminal point of view, but also for the protection and management of valuable equine breeds.