Tamworth trainer Troy O'Neile has appealed to the Racing Appeals Tribunal

Racing NSW's appeals panel reduced O'Neile's suspension from seven to four months, but the trainer had now appealed against the severity of the penalty to the Racing Appeals Tribunal, Racing NSW's chief steward, Steve Railton, said.

A date for the RAT hearing was yet to be set, Railton said.

In January, Racing NSW suspended O'Neile for seven months after he pleaded guilty to two charges.

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The offences stemmed from the Christmas Eve meeting at Tamworth Racecourse on December 24.

O'Neile pleaded guilty to sexually harassing "a person employed, engaged, or participating in the racing industry", as well as to improper conduct "towards a person employed in the racing industry", Racing NSW said in a statement in January.

O'Neile was handed a 12-month suspension for both offences, reduced to seven months for both after he pleaded guilty "at the first available opportunity" and showed remorse "immediately after the incident and at the hearing", Racing NSW said.

It said stewards also took into account his good character, good disciplinary record, and his personal and professional circumstances.

The disqualification followed a complaint being made against O'Neile.

The charges against the trainer were issued on January 9, after an investigation by Racing NSW's Investigation and Surveillance Unit.

O'Neile declined to comment when contacted by the Leader on Thursday, saying in a text: "My solicitor [is] handling the matter[,] call him."

O'Neile's Newcastle-based solicitor, Paul O'Sullivan, said: "I have been instructed to lodge an appeal on severity [of the penalty] only.

"That appeal has been lodged, and a stay [of proceedings] has been granted."

That means O'Neile can keep training and racing horses while the appeals process is ongoing.

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