QRIC Stewards suspend Toowoomba trainer Mark Currie

QUEENSLAND Racing Integrity Commission stewards have suspended trainer Mark Currie after charging him with 16 counts relating to race day treatment.

Currie is a licensed trainer but often works as stable foreman for his son Ben who is the state’s leading trainer on winners.

Stewards interviewed both men after opening an inquiry into activities at the stables on April 7, the day of the Listed Weetwood Handicap.

Two of Ben Currie’s stable staff have been stood down pending further inquiries.

QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett yesterday said Currie senior had been charged with 12 counts of race day treatment and four counts of improper practice.

Barnett said Currie had entered a plea of not guilty and the matters have been adjourned for hearing on a date to be fixed.

He said Currie had his licence suspended until the matters were determined.

“The first treatment allegedly occurred pre-dawn that morning and the second was the suspicious activity the QRIC Integrity Investigations Team members witnessed while monitoring the premises.

“It was also alleged that race day treatment occurred at the same stables before Ben Currie trained horses were transported to race at Doomben and Gatton on Saturday, March 24, 2018.

“Today’s outcome is not the end of the investigation, the focus of these continuing and protracted enquiries is the involvement of other racing industry participants and the outcome may not be known for several weeks.”