Darren Weir disqualification confirmed by Victorian Racing Tribunal, given seven days to relocate horses from his Trevenson Park property

Victorian Racing Tribunal orders new two-year disqualification for using a jigger on three horses to begin immediately, giving disgraced trainer Darren Weir seven days to relocate horses from his Trevenson Park pre-training property.

Disqualified former trainer Darren Weir. Picture: Michael Klein

Disgraced trainer Darren Weir has seven days to move horses from his Trevenson Park property before he starts another two-year disqualification.

The Victorian Racing Tribunal ordered Weir’s new disqualification commence immediately after considering submissions on the starting date of Weir’s disqualification for using a ‘jigger’ on three horses in 2018.

Weir’s legal counsel, Ian Hill KC, told the tribunal the trainer was “anxious to have the matter finalised before the tribunal today.”

• Inside Darren Weir’s Trevenson Park pre-training property

The three-person panel – chaired by Judge Bowman – agreed, allowing Weir to start his disqualification on September 9.

Following the last hearing of the long-running case, Weir’s counsel submitted his two-year sanction should be backdated to February 6 last year, the date his previous disqualification ended for possession of the electrical devices.

In early 2019, Weir and Racing Victoria stewards came to an agreement for the trainer to serve a four-year disqualification.

Racing Victoria stewards subsequently charged Weir with using the jiggers on Red Cardinal, Tosen Basil and Yogi at the end of a Victoria Police inquiry into the matter.

Darren Weir at his former stables in Ballarat in 2016. Picture: Aaron Francis

Weir pleaded guilty to animal cruelty offences in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court in 2022 for which he was fined $36,000 with no criminal conviction recorded.

The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer had operated a pre-training and spelling business at Trevenson Park, near Maldon in Central Victoria.

Under the terms of disqualification, Weir cannot earn a direct or indirect income from racing, nor can he attend race meetings.

As a disqualified person, Weir would need to reapply to RV’s Licensing Committee at the end of his time out to regain his trainer’s licence.

That decision lies solely with the discretion of RV.

EXCLUSIVE FEATURE: ‘It ate away at me, the first couple of years were very tough': Darren Weir's exile revealed in his first interview. @snowyclarkhttps://t.co/NVUHztUtFkpic.twitter.com/WuS2XQTNW0

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) December 25, 2023

While the VRT finalised Weir’s disqualification period, the tribunal has still to finalise the start of disqualifications for co-accused Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond.

Judge Bowman noted the tribunal erred when determining McLean and Kermond’s penalties, which were handed down in July.

Bowman said the VRT had not taken into account the duo had been suspended by stewards between October 2019 and the conclusion of the court case in December 2022.

The error caused the tribunal to cut McLean’s latest disqualification to nine months while Kermond will serve another three months.

Legal counsel for RV and McLean and Kermond could not lock in the dates on which the duo would start their respective penalties.

The VRT will reconvene on Tuesday morning to confirm the dates of Kermond and McLean’s disqualifications.

Originally published as Darren Weir disqualification confirmed by Victorian Racing Tribunal, given seven days to relocate horses from his Trevenson Park property