’ Jigger’ found at race track

RACING Victoria stewards are investigating the discovery of an illegal handheld, batteryoperated device at Mornington trackwork on Monday.

A trainer is among several licensed people who have already been interviewed by stewards about the device, commonly known as a jigger, or a jack.

It’s understood a track worker found the jigger on the track after it had apparently been dropped by a rider.

Considered one of the most serious crimes in racing, the small device is held against a horse’s neck and transmits an electric shock to make the horse run faster or try harder.

Horses that have been “jacked up” can sometimes respond as if they were hit on the neck or struck with a whip.

Stewards would not comment until they had made further inquiries.

“A number of licensed persons and racecourse staff have been interviewed by stewards regarding the discovery of the device during morning trackwork,” Racing Victoria said in a statement.

“The stewards’ investigation is still in its infancy and until such time as their preliminary questioning is complete, stewards will not be making any further comment on the specifics of their investigation.”

Racing Victoria said the use, attempted use or possession of a handheld battery device in training or racing was strictly forbidden. The most recent case prosecuted in Victoria for the use of a jigger was in January 2007, when Horsham trainer Paul Preusker was disqualified for four years and jockey Holly McKechnie for three.

Both resumed their careers after serving their time.

SCANS will determine the spring plans of Melbourne Cup hope Signoff, who has a leg injury. Trainer Darren Weir had planned to run Signoff, fourth in last year’s Melbourne Cup, in Sunday’s 2000m Pakenham Cup and then spell him. Weir said a bit of heat had been detected behind a knee and, while he didn’t think it serious, the Pakenham Cup was out and he would be guided by the results of scans.