James Chapman arrested for stalking fellow trainer
The trainer James Chapman, who has horses stabled in New York and Kentucky, was arrested by Nassau County (N.Y.) police on Wednesday and charged with stalking, a B misdemeanor, according to a posting on the Nassau County district court website and Chapman himself.
Chapman, 51, said he spent Wednesday night in jail and on Thursday morning was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead. Chapman told Daily Racing Form that he pleaded not guilty to the stalking charge.
Chapman is accused of stalking fellow trainer Amira Chichakly. The two, up until recently, were stabled in barns next to each other on the Belmont backstretch.
“It’s ridiculous,” Chapman said. “All over round pens.”
According to Chapman, he purchased two round pens - for horses to roll in, typically after training - from recently retired trainer Keith O’Brien, the son of the former trainer Leo O’Brien. Chapman said the two round pens were in the middle between his and Chichakly’s barn on the backstretch.
Chapman said he wanted the round pens back and had some of his workers dig them up. He said the round pens are still with Chichakly.
During a prolonged argument over the round pens, Chapman took multiple videos of Anthony Stabile making threatening comments toward him. Stabile, a NYRA television analyst, was also a stable manager for an owner for whom Chichakly trains.
Stabile was not on NYRA’s telecasts last week and it is believed that he no longer works for the company. Stabile declined comment on his job status when reached Thursday morning.
Sources told Daily Racing Form that Chapman was escorted by police off the grounds at Belmont on Wednesday and taken to a local precinct for an interview. Following the interview, he was arrested.
“NYRA is aware of this matter and will determine appropriate next steps after it is adjudicated by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office," said Patrick McKenna, vice president for communications at the New York Racing Association.
Chichakly said she filed a complaint against Chapman with Nassau County police last Friday after receiving numerous texts from Chapman, including one that read “protect you[r] child” and another that was a video of her talking to a jockey in the paddock before a race.
Chichakly also said that in one instance, Chapman got into the backseat of her car and took a photo of himself sitting next to Chichakly’s 2 1/2-year-old daughter.
Chapman said that he received permission from Chichakly to go into the car and, noticing the daughter was cold, put a blanket on her.
“The kid was shaking, I put a blanket on her and she was hungry,” Chapman said.
“He yelled at me in front of my daughter,” Chichakly said. “He was pushing the limits between words and actions and I was thinking actions are going to start to kick in.”
Chichakly said that she told Chapman several times via text to “leave me alone. Stop texting me. And he kept going.”
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Chapman is no longer stabled next to Chichakly. His 10 horses are in a new barn. Chapman’s top horse is the undefeated 3-year-old sprinter Drew’s Gold, who has won all four of his starts and is being pointed to the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on June 10.
In New York, penalties for a B misdemeanor range from 0 to 90 days in jail. Additionally, fines, a one-year probation, community service and an order of protection could be ordered.
Chapman said he was told Thursday by a judge not to text Chichakly and “if you see her, go the other way,” Chapman said.
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