Jockey Will Gordon to face Victorian Racing Tribunal on racehorse ownership charge

Jockey Will Gordon has been charged with breaching Australian Rules of Racing with the purchase of a Doubtland filly in March on behalf of his partner, pre-trainer Taige Weir.

Jockey Will Gordon. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

Jockey Will Gordon will face the Victorian Racing Tribunal on racehorse ownership charges.

Gordon breached Australian Rules of Racing with the purchase of a Doubtland filly in March on behalf of partner, licensed person and pre-trainer Taige Weir.

Gordon registered as purchaser, successfully bid and paid the $20,050 required for the yearling.

Weir, an aspiring trainer and daughter of Melbourne Cup-winning disqualified trainer Darren Weir, had limited finances at the time to complete the transaction, so Gordon agreed to foot the bill.

Under AR 116, a jockey is not permitted to own, take a lease or have any interest in an unnamed or named racehorse.

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Gordon faced two charges – interest in a horse and the alternative, interest in a horse transaction.

He pleaded guilty to the second charge at the earliest opportunity.

Barrister Damian Sheales on behalf of Gordon submitted a “no case to answer” application before the VRT in relation to Charge 1 – interest in horse.

It is alleged Gordon had ownership of the Doubtland filly from March 4-25.

His interest did not extend beyond March 25.

The tribunal heard submissions Gordon only acted as the agent for Weir and never acquired ownership of the filly, or had an actual interest in it.

“We are of the view that those are factors that constitute the basis of an unanswerable Charge,” the VRT ruled.

“They could be summarised as being those involving Mr Gordon registering as a prospective purchaser, making the successful bid at the auction and paying for the horse.

“Of course, we are assessing such factors in the context of a ‘no case to answer’ dispute. The situation in relation to a full contest, with the stewards bearing the burden of proof, could well be different.

“In summary, Mr Gordon does have a case to answer on Charge 1.”

Gordon will face a VRT hearing on a date to be fixed.

Originally published as Jockey Will Gordon to face Victorian Racing Tribunal on racehorse ownership charge