ANALYSIS: Six million reasons why exiled trainer Darren Weir can never again
Darren Weir is entitled to a second chance — just not as a racehorse trainer, writes Gilbert Gardiner.
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Darren Weir himself is not the issue here.
Pleading guilty to shocking acts of animal cruelty is the problem.
Animal cruelty is the single biggest threat to horse racing in the modern era.
Concerns about wagering dollars, depleted race day crowds, outside of the main events, and an ageing demographic only exist because of the stars of the show — the horse.
Racing Victoria is desperate to champion the horse at any opportunity.
Behind ‘Here for the Horses’ campaigns, the documentary, podcasts and advertising, the Victorian regulator has supported strict veterinary protocols and equine rehoming programs.
A two per cent clip of the $284m Victorian thoroughbred prizemoney pool – about $6m a year – largely bankrolls equine welfare in the state.
Given the money poured into welfare programs and what is at stake, a serious question must be asked.
How could RV even consider a future training application from Weir, lest approve one?
Weir has been a model citizen since his disqualification, sure.
He existed off the grid, minding sheep and cattle, and declined nearly all media advances.
To use a familiar refrain, he copped a four-year disqualification on the chin.
The potential road back for Weir is a bumpy one.
First, he must get past the animal cruelty and corruption charges currently before the Victorian Racing Tribunal.
Weir’s previous disqualification, which expired in February 2023, was for possession of jiggers.
New evidence, surveillance footage captured by Victoria Police and given to racing stewards after the criminal proceedings against Weir ended in December 2022, led to new charges for using the electronic shock device on three racehorses in 2018.
Weir pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of animal abuse in the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court in 2022 to avoid a potential term of imprisonment.
The disgraced trainer was fortunate the judge declined to impose a criminal conviction for the offence, rejecting prosecution requests.
He pleaded guilty to animal cruelty last Monday before the VRT.
A decision is set to be handed down early next week with a further penalty hearing on a date to be fixed.
A three-person tribunal panel chaired by Judge John Bowman must consider whether Weir intended to corrupt the outcome of feature races in 2018, including the Melbourne Cup.
The animal cruelty charges were accepted by Weir, no contest.
Weir must, in due course, decide whether he actually wants to reapply for a trainer’s licence.
Racing Victoria updated its licensing and registration “suitability policy” last year to include a clause “o” – the applicant’s past conduct in relation to any matter related to animal welfare.
Weir has the money and influential backers to challenge a rejection through civil means but a guilty plea to animal cruelty is writ large.
Could RV afford to re-licence Weir given its position and investment in animal welfare?
No.
Should Weir be treated differently to others who break the rules?
Yes.
Unfortunately, Weir is a victim of his own success.
He was among the biggest names in Victorian racing for more than a decade before the jigger scandal.
Rightly or wrongly, profile matters.
A re-licenced Weir would only embolden the hate brigade and give the vocal minority a figurehead for racing cruelty.
There are degrees of cruelty.
Failure to provide feed and water to horses is abhorrent.
So too, a failure to provide veterinary and humane end of life care.
Using a jigger on horses is also on the ugly scale.
Weir, the person and undisputed master horseman, a winner of more than 3600 races — 36 at the highest level including the 2015 Melbourne Cup — was great for racing.
That was until the 38 minutes of madness in his old Warrnambool stable on October 30, 2018 where he proceeded, with a regretful plan, to use a jigger on three racehorses.
A 15-minute clip of the surveillance tape played in the Victorian Racing Tribunal last Monday showed Weir using a jigger 25 times as the horses were exercised on a treadmill.
Tosen Basil got nine jabs to the rump, side and back, Red Cardinal seven and Yogi nine.
“I wasn’t happy doing it and very uncomfortable,” Weir told stewards during their investigation.
“So that was the reason that I stopped, because I just didn’t, wasn’t comfortable doing it and it makes me sick when I watch the film.”
Weir, like the rest of society, is entitled to a second chance — just not as a racehorse trainer.
■ Gilbert Gardiner is a senior racing writer for Racenet and the Herald Sun.
Originally published as ANALYSIS: Six million reasons why exiled trainer Darren Weir can never again
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