Ben Currie responds to Racing Queensland’s decision to reject his nominations

Controversial trainer Ben Currie has vowed to fight the latest ban imposed by Racing Queensland ahead of one of the biggest race days on the Gold Coast as uncertainty surrounds the future of his staff.

CONTROVERSIAL trainer Ben Currie has vowed to fight the latest ban imposed by Racing Queensland as uncertainty surrounds the future of his staff.

The lengthy battle between the Toowoomba trainer and the state’s racing administrators that began in April last year has hit it’s peak following the decision by Racing Queensland to enact AR55 and reject Currie’s nominations for this Saturday’s race meeting at the Gold Coast.

It’s one of the biggest meetings of the year at the Gold Coast track, with prizemoney for each of the nine races on the program ranging between $75,000 and $500,000.

Currie had several horses nominated for the Coast meeting, including stable star Mishani Hustler, who recently won the rich QTIS 3YO Jewel at Eagle Farm.

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Currie was fierce in his response to the ban imposed on Thursday, currently only in place for the Gold Coast meeting and Friday’s meetings at Lockyer Valley and Sunshine Coast.

“We are going to the Supreme Court to appeal it,” Currie said.

“I don’t think they have jurisdiction for a start and obviously I think I’m innocent.

“My biggest disappointment comes with the owners this week.

“We are basically informed horses aren’t allowing to run this Saturday by not allowing the acceptances.

“It seems they are more worried about people outside of Queensland who aren’t even stake holders rather than the actual owners who are already here.

Trainer Ben Currie is seen during the QTIS Jewel Raceday at Aquis Park on the Gold Coast, Saturday, March 16, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren England)

“We have a lot of owners out of pocket for this weekend. That and the uncertainty it brings to my staff.

“I have a lot of staff here and a lot of them are on a minimum wage being stable hands and what not.

“There is a lot of uncertainty there and they have families. To pull our horses out on acceptance day leaves everything up in the air.

“We have uncertainty whether we are going to be allowed to nominate going forward.”

“All we have asked for is due process and for this to be allowed to go through the proper legal procedures they have put in place.

“For them to step in and not allow us to do that is pretty ordinary as well.”

AR55 states: “All nominations are subject to the approval of a PRA (Principal Racing Authority) or stewards. Either may decline to receive or after receiving reject any nomination in their absolute discretion and without giving reasons for so doing.”

Trainer Ben Currie is seen during the QTIS Jewel Raceday at Aquis Park on the Gold Coast, Saturday, March 16, 2019. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Gold Coast Turf Club officials have voiced their support of Racing Queensland’s decision.

Currie said the uncertainty he referred to was the fact he may have to lay some staff off as the battle to clear his name continues to affect his back pocket.

Currie said he has already spent upwards of $200,000 in legal fees since his battle began over 12 months ago, eased only by a win at court that had Queensland Racing Integrity Commission forced to pay around $100,000 of his fees.

“I’ve been a bit lucky that I don’t have dependence and the expenses and pressures that come with it,” Currie said.

“Also I’ve been a bit lucky with results go our way with a few wins in big races in the last 12 months.

“There is a misconception that I’m dragging things out. That is not the case at all.

“The longer it drags out the more my business and suffers and more legal fees I pay.

“I need an answer as well, the quicker the better.”

Currie believed he had been unfairly targeted after recording 135 winners already this season and 156 the season before that.

“The only reason my case is at the forefront is because we have still been winning throughout the time frame,” Currie said.

“I really think if I trained 10 winners this year no one would care and I’d be able to go through the process and get to the end stage without anyone worrying about it.

“I just want a fair opportunity to get to a place where there is an independent body instead of the judge, jury and executioner being the stewards and QRIC which is the case now.

“To do that I have had to keep going back to the courts. Every time I have gone to the courts I have won so it’s clear it’s not a black and white thing and that I have done all these bad things.”

Separate to the RQ action, stewards from the QRIC are currently deliberating on two charges related to the alleged use of an electrical advice.

Currie was due to make submissions on those charges by 4pm on Monday.