‘He’s done his time:’ Weir to face racing tribunal on animal cruelty charges as brother calls for his return

As Darren Weir prepares to front a Racing Victoria hearing on animal cruelty charges on Monday, his brother fears he will never be allowed to train again.

Speaking from his wheat farm in the Mallee, Chris Weir said he was concerned the racing industry would shut the door permanently on his Melbourne Cup-winning brother.

Darren Weir faces fresh industry charges this week.Credit: Jason South

“It’s just too long now,” Chris said of his brother’s five-year exile.

“I don’t know what they are trying to do, but I don’t like his chances [of getting back].

“There might be rule changes just to keep him out of the industry, we will just see what happens.”

Weir will front the Victorian Racing Tribunal on Monday, alongside Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond, to answer 10 charges each relating to the use of an electric shock device (jigger) on three horses on the eve of the 2018 Melbourne Cup carnival.

The trio pleaded guilty to animal abuse in the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court in December 2022, but avoided conviction.

The Darren Weir-trained Prince Of Penzance won the Melbourne Cup for Michelle Payne in 2015.Credit: Getty Images

A 15-minute clip used by police in the case was then made available to Racing Victoria stewards who laid 10 new industry charges against each of the three men – four charges of corrupt conduct and six charges of animal cruelty.

In February 2019, Weir was disqualified for four years for the possession of jiggers after they were found in his bedroom during a police raid. That ban ended in February last year.

Weir, McLean and Kermond were found to have used a jigger on Yogi, Red Cardinal and Tosen Basil while they ran on a treadmill at Weir’s Warrnambool stables on October 30, 2018.

Even though Weir emerged from his four-year ban more than 12 months ago, he has chosen not to reapply for a trainer’s licence while the racing charges are pending.

If he does apply, he will have to prove he is a “fit and proper” person under Racing Victoria’s suitability policy, which was adopted in 2019.

Chris Weir said it was time the industry let his brother return.

“It’s pretty simple, if I were a thoroughbred, I would like to be in his stable. Because he did have the best of everything,” Chris said.

“He had plenty of patience, always tried to buy the best feed, he looked after them the best. But there are animals that need education.”

Horsham trainer Paul Preusker, who was banned for four years in 2007 for possession and use of a jigger, believes Weir should be allowed back.

He said racing’s judicial system was designed to give people a second chance.

“They have got to have faith in their system, and their penalties, that a bloke can learn from it,” Preusker said.

“It would be sad, and I think people would lose faith in the system, if they turned it into another five years [for Weir], or even another year.”

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir at his training facility in Miners Rest.Credit: Jesse Marlow

Preusker said any penalty arising from Weir’s coming tribunal hearings “would want to be served concurrently”.

“You just don’t want to lose faith in the system,” he said.

“I am telling them, with me, would I go there again? Or would I entertain breaching the rules again? No fear, mate. It’s lesson learned.”

Weir is currently pre-training up to 100 thoroughbreds on his Trevenson Park property at Baringhup, near Maldon, for industry heavyweights such as Chris Waller and Lloyd Williams. He is permitted to do so because he is no longer disqualified.

Darren Weir and Michelle Payne after Prince Of Penzance won the 2015 Melbourne Cup.Credit: Justin McManus

The only caveat is that the horses must be in a licensed racing stable at least 28 days before competing in a race.

Preusker said it was time that Weir was let back.

“He has served more than his penalty, I think,” Preusker said.

“He is a great horseman and an asset to the industry, why would you want him out of it?”

Swan Hill trainer Austy Coffey, who employed Weir before he became a racing juggernaut, also argued for Weir to be given a second chance.

“He’s got an aviary in his backyard and three sheepdogs follow him around all day. He’s an animal lover,” Coffey said.

“But there will be people who are barracking for him, and there will be people who aren’t. And the ones who aren’t might keep him out.

“He made a mistake and he realises that. He has done five years. Let him back. He’s a guy that’s worth a second chance.”

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