One of the country's top horse trainers allegedly mocked an Indian stablehand's accent and told him and other employees to speak proper English while at work.

In one instance Stephen McKee even told the other man, “It wouldn’t matter if an Indian died, there would still be a billion left” after he’d nearly been kicked by a difficult horse.

At the hearing into the allegations against McKee in Auckland last year, he admitted asking staff to speak in English as a matter of safety in a potentially dangerous work environment, including one comment where he said, “I pay you in dollars not rupees” and another comment where he said, “How much do I owe you, $5 or $10, isn’t that what you get in India”.

However, McKee maintains these comments were all made in jest and in the context of group banter with multiple stablehands present, rather than being targeted racial abuse against Singh.

“We were joking around and making banter. I certainly have not been abusive in speaking to my Indian employees as Mr Singh alleges,” McKee told the tribunal.

“I don’t have any issues with Indians, their culture nor their work ethic.”