Horse trainer Darren Weir disqualified for four years

Darren Weir has been disqualified from horse racing, abruptly derailing the career of Australia’s most successful trainer, following revelations jiggers were found in his bedroom.

Trainer Darren Weir at the RV hearing on Monday. Picture: AAP

THE remnants of Darren Weir’s training empire has been effectively grounded after the Australia’s most successful trainer was disqualified for four years.

Under stringent interim guidelines imposed by Racing Victoria, Weir’s caretaker successor Mick Leonard will not be able to race or trial any of Weir’s former string.

Weir has been given 10 business days to organise the transfer to Leonard as part of the special disqualification conditions.

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Leonard is helping organise a long-term replacement for Weir, believed to be Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Until he was issued with six charges relating to the discovery of three jiggers at his Ballarat property last Wednesday, Weir had more than 600 horses on his books.

RV head of integrity Jamie Stier set out the conditions of Weir’s ban after it was imposed by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.

“Mr Weir will not be permitted to participate in the racing industry in any way over the four-year period, including, but not limited to his participation in the training of horses, attending race meetings and licensed premises and deriving any benefit from the industry,” Stier said.

“In the interests of Mr Weir’s owners and staff and the welfare of horses, the stewards have granted permission for licensed trainer Michael Leonard to assume care of Mr Weir’s horses for a period of up to 28 days whilst discussions continue for a permanent solution.

Darren Weir leaves the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after he was disqualified from horse racing. Picture: AAP

“During this 28-day period, Mr Leonard will be permitted to oversee the training of horses at Forest Lodge Stables, however he will not be permitted to nominate horses transferred to him from Mr Weir for any race or official trial.

“Given the size of Mr Weir’s stables, the stewards have also granted an extended period of 10 business days for Mr Weir to coordinate the transfer of horses from his care.”

Weir, 48, did not contest four serious charges against him.

Handing down the penalty, Judge John Bowman on behalf of deputy chairman Brian Forrest, said: “It is sad it has come to this. You are a 48-year-old man who has completed a rags to riches rise in the racing world.

“Until a week ago, you could be described as a leviathan trainer … with hundreds of horses, owners that number in the thousands with a staff of 150.

“You rose from the depths of the Mallee to be Australia’s leading trainer.

“All of this makes your fall even sadder.

“Now you will be remembered for possessing instruments of cruelty and implements associated with a high level of cheating.

“This is clearly a significant breach of the rules.”

The board imposed a “global penalty” of four years on the three jigger charges and another for conduct prejudicial.

Darren Weir celebrating Prince of Penzance’s Melbourne Cup win with Michelle Payne in 2015. Picture: AP

But deputy chairman Josh Bornstein pushed for a five-year ban, arguing Weir should serve a 30-month ban for possessing jiggers and a further 30 months for conduct prejudicial.

The board ultimately landed on a four-year ban, which starts immediately.

Weir’s barrister Patrick Wheelahan said the trainer pleaded no contest because he wanted a quick resolution to the charges rather than the matter dragging on and costing the industry millions of dollars.

The hearing was told three jiggers were found in the trainer’s master bedroom at Ballarat.

Racing Victoria produced details of a Victoria Police search during a dawn raid on Weir’s house and stables last week.

RV legal counsel Jeff Gleeson, QC, said three devices were uncovered in the house used by Weir in the Forest Lodge stables at Miners Rest.

Gleeson said the location of the devices was telling.

“The inference is inescapable,” he said.

“Locating those devices in a master bedroom indicate a desire to conceal those items from stewards.”

Gleeson said the use of jiggers to intimidate horses with an electric shock was cruel.

The practice, he said, puts “winning ahead of the welfare of horses.”

Trainer Darren Weir has been disqualified for four years. Picture: AAP

Gleeson said the racing industry had been tarnished in the aftermath of the stable raid.

Weir had not offered any explanation over the presence of jiggers.

He faced a fourth charge of conduct prejudicial to the interests of racing.

Two other charges of failing to give evidence and failing to comply with stewards’ directions were dropped after Weir agreed on Monday not to contest the charges.

The hearing began with a string of disclosures from Judge John Bowman.

Judge Bowman told a packed inquiry room both he and deputy chairman Josh Bornstein had previously raced horses with Weir.

Co-accused Jarrod McLean will appear before the RAD Board on four charges relating to a jigger on his property at Yangery.

McLean has vowed to fight the charges, telling owners “police charges are pending but this process will take quite some time.”

“I have fully co-operated with them and am confident that everything will be fine,” he said.

“I look forward to training for many years to come.”

Last season Weir trained 491 winners, earning more than $31 million in prizemoney. This season he has managed 265 winners and collected more than $18 million prizemoney.

DARREN WEIR’S DISCIPLINARY RECORD

February, 2019 — Disqualified for four years after being issued with six charges over the discovery of jiggers. Also charged with failing to give evidence, failing to follow stewards’ directions.

September, 2018 — Fined $5000 after pleading guilty to making false or misleading statements over the identity of seven horses at the Ballarat trials on October 3.

January, 2018 — Fined $500 over the late on-course arrival of Night’s Watch at Doomben. The horse was scratched and missed the opportunity to qualify for the Magic Millions.

September, 2017 — Fined $2500 after pleading guilty to taking Air Guitar to the Burrumbeet trials when the horse had non-steroidal anti-inflammatories in its system.

November, 2013 — Fined $2000 after a security guard arrived at his Ballarat stable to monitor VRC sprint hopeful Platelet, only to find the horse had been transferred to Weir’s Warrnambool base without stewards’ knowledge. It was the seventh time in five years Weir had been called in by stewards for failing to notify a change of stable for his horses.

May, 2013 — Fined $7000 after Doing Our Best returned a positive swab to Frusemide after winning at Ballarat on February 16, 2013.

March, 2011 — Fined $500 for using abusive language towards a trackwork supervisor at Ballarat.

A horse is put on a float at Darren Weir’s stable on Saturday. Picture: Jay Town

January, 2010 — Weir-trained Time Matters was withdrawn from a Listed race at Caulfield after a routine race day-stable inspection revealed the horse had been at Jarrod McLean’s Warrnambool stable.

November, 2009 — Fined $1500 after Lethal Gal was scratched from Ballarat Cup Day after a race-day inspection at Weir’s stable revealed the horse was located in a nearby stable of another trainer.

February, 2008 — Fined $15,000 after pleading guilty to sending Grey Jeune to the July 14, 2007 Murtoa meeting with an elevated bicarbonate (TC02) level. Grey Jeune won the Murtoa Cup, but was subsequently stripped of the win.

May, 2006 — Glebe Run was controversially scratched on the last day of the 2006 Warrnambool May Carnival. Stewards deemed there was a ‘strong possibility’ the horse had been stomach-tubed. Blood and urine tests from Glebe Run were clear and no action was taken against Weir.

September, 2003 — Suspended for three months after he was caught administering a substance via a stomach tube to Kinther King at Rupanyup on the way to the August 8 Murtoa races.

October, 2002 — Fined $1000 after being found in possession of stomach tubing equipment at Manangatang races.

January, 2001 — Suspended for eight weeks for giving false evidence over the late scratching of Amanda Huggenkiss at Warrnambool. Weir was followed by racetrack detective Peter McMillan into the float car park where Weir placed the horse on a float for 13 minutes before re-emerging.

January, 2001 — Fined $1000 for removing Amanda Huggenkiss from the saddling paddock at Warrnambool and for having a needle in his possession.