Disgraced horse trainer Darren Weir has been hit with a four-year world-wide ban from horse racing after he decided not to contest charges he had three electric jiggers in his possession.
Meantime, it has been announced the powerful Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable has bought Weir’s large Ballarat complex.
The juggernaut Victorian Weir stable, which has taken all before it with 36 Group One victories, is now gone with numerous elite horses already taken out of the stables.
The Victorian Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RAD) issued Weir a four year ban after hearing evidence from solicitors with the “laying of criminal charges by the police still a possibility”.
It is alleged three jiggers were found in Mr Weir’s bedroom at Miner’s Rest, Ballarat on January 30. The RAD said the issue was not over use but possession, RAD chairman Judge John Bowman said.
Judge Bowman gave a rundown of Weir’s rise from rags to riches life and the elements of the case against him:
“The electric or electronic apparatus involved is a double-pronged handheld device known as a "jigger" which effectively conveys a nasty electric shock type of sensation when pushed against a horse, usually in the neck region. This is often done in conjunction with some other event or means of handling, so that the horse comes to associate such event and/or handling with the nasty electric shock. The end result is that it is anticipated that the horse will put on a burst of increased speed. Such devices have long since been banned and have been the subject of rulings by this Board and its predecessors. Apart from the dishonesty and cheating that can be involved, the very important aspect of animal welfare is at the forefront of modern thinking.
“In the present instance, these jiggers were seized at your residence at Forest Lodge, Miners Rest, near Ballarat, where what could be described as your principal stables are located, and they were seized in a raid on 30 January 2019. We emphasise again the charges laid against you are charges of possession of the jiggers, not using them, but that still leaves you facing very serious charges. However, it is a distinction to be borne in mind. In short, we find the charges pursuant to AR 175(hh)(ii) proven.”
“For many people, it is sad that it has come to this. You are a 48-year-old man who has completed a famous rags-to-riches fairytale rise in the racing world. You come from Berriwillock, a very small Mallee town. You left school at the age of 15. You worked as a horse breaker, farrier, trackrider and strapper.
“You started training in 1995 at the age of 25 years. Within a decade, you were the leading country trainer, and whilst long based in Ballarat and to a lesser extent Warrnambool, you rapidly rose to become premier metropolitan trainer and went on to become the Commonwealth training record holder. Subsequently, your rate of winners went on to improve that even further.
“Until a week ago, you were what could be described as a leviathan trainer – hundreds of horses, chasing winners from the big city carnivals to the once-a-year country meetings, owners numbering in the thousands, a staff of 150 and a number of training establishments. To cap all of this, you always appeared on television coverage as a down-to-earth, affable, approachable, no airs or graces, country trainer. You rose from the depths of the Mallee to be Australia's leading trainer. All of this makes your fall all the sadder and more tragic. Your knowledge of your horses and your amazing recall astonished people. Now you will be remembered for possessing instruments of cruelty, instruments associated with high-level cheating, although as stated many times, you are not charged with use.”
Judge Bowman issued a penalty of four years disqualificaton, with a dissenting judgment from one board member saying the penalty should be five years.
All of this makes your fall all the sadder and more tragic.
- Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board Chairman Judge Bowman
At least 35 horses have already been taken from his Victorian operation including Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut and top horses such as Land of Plenty and Amphitrite.
A barrage of angry comments has led to Darren Weir removing his Facebook account despite an outpouring of grief and support from his closest friends and followers and pleas for his family to be left out of the controversy.
His penalty has dismayed many in the industry who held the former farrier in high esteem after his rags to riches story in which he eventually won a Melbourne Cup, in 2015, with Prince of Penzance. The winning jockey Michelle Payne became an instant hero and was even elevated into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame. A film is currently being shot to celebrate her achievement. Weir broke the Commonwealth training record in 2016 with more than 340 winners for the season.
Last week Michelle Payne said she never seen anything untoward in Weir’s stable. “I never witnessed or was aware of any illegal practices,” she said.
Racing Victoria Executive General Manager – Integrity, Jamie Stier, said “this is a complex matter and the stewards were determined to be thorough and give due consideration to the submissions made, their legal advice and the ongoing investigations.
Weir’s foreman and fellow trainer Jarrod McLean said he will fight the charges. “Mr McLean will be contesting the charge issued against him under AR 175(hh)(ii) for possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse; and the charge issued against him under AR175A for conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing,” stewards announced.
“On the basis that Mr McLean will contest the charges, significant conditions have been imposed on his operation until such time as the charges have been heard and determined by the RAD Board including that Mr McLean not be permitted to receive any horses to train that were in the care of Mr Weir as at 30 January 2019.
“Subject to the condition stated above, Mr McLean will be permitted to continue to nominate and accept horses for races and official trials,” stewards said.
It said charges against licensed foreman Tyson Kermond after evidence, “need not be pursued” over hindering stewards in their investigation.
The many staff at Weir’s racing stables in Ballarat and Warrnambool have been offered counselling.
The Ballarat Courier listed the horses that have been taken out so far from Weir’s stables and where they have gone to:
Chris Waller: Nature Strip, Yes Yes Yes, Hulk
Kris Lees: Brave Smash
Ciaron Maher Racing: Extra Brut, Night's Watch, Land Of Plenty
Lindsay Park: Amphitrite, Hawkshot, Chauffeur and an as-yet unraced two-year- old. More expected
Patrick Payne: Banachek, Invincible Amici, Nussink
Archie Alexander: Gallic Chieftain
Phillip Stokes: All Too Hiyung arrived on Saturday, along with six owned by syndicator Wylie Dalziel. Expecting a number of Peter Moody-owned horses.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
