Australian trainer faces four-year ban
Besieged Australian horse trainer Darren Weir is facing a four-year disqualification and could find out his fate today.
Weir’s lawyers indicated at a marathon 10-hour hearing on Monday that he would not contest charges against him.
The show-cause hearing involving Weir and his Warrnambool foreman Jarrod McLean continued for more than 10 hours at Racing Victoria headquarters as both men and their lawyers argued their case as to why they should be able to keep training in the immediate future.
Racing Victoria issued a statement just after 1.15am yesterday (3.30am NZT) to say the hearings had concluded and that Weir would not contest the three charges against him, including the charges relating to the use of ‘‘jiggers’’, electronic devices to deliver an electronic shock to affect the performance of a horse.
Nor will he fight against the charge issued against him for conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing.
Weir will front the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board this morning.
Racing Victoria stewards say they will seek a four-year disqualification. ‘‘Mr Weir was informed that this was the stewards’ position before he determined not to contest the charges,’’ the Racing Victoria statement said.
The plea means that Weir has effectively decided that this was a ban he was ready to accept rather than fight on in the hope of receiving a lesser penalty. He is subject to a set of conditions until the charges are determined.
The RAD Board has the power to issue penalties higher or lower than the stewards’ recommendation.
Weir will not be permitted to nominate horses for any races or official trials.
Any horses trained by him that have accepted to race will be withdrawn by order of the stewards.
He will not be permitted to accept with any horses that he has nominated.
Any horse currently nominated for a race, but not accepted, must be transferred from Weir’s stable to another trainer with the approval of the stewards prior to acceptance time should the owners wish it to compete in the nominated race.
Weir must divest himself of any registered ownership interest in a registered horse, prior to that horse being permitted to accept for any race.
Several of the high-profile horses in the Weir yard that already have entries for major races during the autumn carnival have already been shifted to other stables and will therefore be able to contest races like Saturday’s Group 1 Orr Stakes at Caulfield, the first Group 1 contest of the year in Australia.
McLean, who is also a Group I-winning trainer with the team he operates independently of Weir, will continue fighting the charge against him of possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse and the charge of conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing.
A set of ‘‘significant conditions’’ have been imposed on McLean’s operations until the charges are finalised by the board, including a ban on receiving any horses to train that were in the care of Weir before January 30.
He will, however, be allowed to nominate and accept horses for races and official trials.