Darren Weir jigger hearing: Disgraced trainer hit with further two-year disqualification over jigger use, but submissions still to be made on start date

Victorian Racing Tribunal hands down new two-year disqualification against disgraced trainer Darren Weir for the use of a jigger on three racehorses, placing a cloud over the future of his Trevenson Park pre-training facility.

Disgraced trainer Darren Weir used jiggers on three racehorses in 2018. Picture: Michael Klein

Disgraced trainer Darren Weir has been hit with a further two-year disqualification for animal cruelty, the use of a jigger on three racehorses in 2018, and dishonest conduct.

Despite first indicating Weir’s new penalty would begin on Friday, the Victorian Racing Tribunal was forced to adjourn for further submissions to be made.

Weir has operated a successful private pre-training business, Trevenson Park, for about 12 months. His clients include leading trainer Chris Waller and prominent owner Lloyd Williams

A disqualified person, under the Australian Rules of Racing, cannot attend racecourses or licensed premises, participate in any way in the preparation for racing or training of a horse, and derive any direct or indirect financial benefit from thoroughbred racing or breeding.

Tribunal chair Judge John Bowman set a “tentative orders” timeline for stewards and counsel acting for Weir and co-accused Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond to work toward.

“In each case the date of disqualification is not yet determined and is to be determined on a date to be fixed,” Judge Bowman said.

“If required, and if the issue cannot be determined on the papers, a directions hearing will be set down on a date to be fixed, on or before August 16 so there is a definite finality date.”

EXCLUSIVE: "It's such a sad situation," master trainer Chris Waller said, reflecting on the circumstances surrounding Darren Weir's disqualification. "He had an addiction to winning races, but he didn't need to do what he did." @snowyclarkhttps://t.co/6VnE7HqpVxpic.twitter.com/vGHirSCOE1

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) December 25, 2023

• ‘The first couple of years were very tough’: Weir’s exile revealed

Barrister Damian Sheales, acting for McLean and Kermond, sparked a discussion on when their respective 18-month and six-month disqualifications should start.

Sheales said his clients’ licences were suspended on October 2019, pending police involvement, thereby time served should be taken into account.

“They were deprived of their licences from that time,” Sheales said.

Barrister Ian Hill KC echoed the sentiment, citing the fact that Weir’s original four-year disqualification for possession of jiggers expired in February 2023.

Since then, Weir has been unlicenced and – at the request of Racing Victoria stewards – dutifully not attended metropolitan race meetings or yearling sales while otherwise permitted to do so.

The tribunal last month heard that the 35 workers Weir employs at Trevenson Park would lose their jobs should he be disqualified and forced to shutter the business.

Before the start date stalemate, the tribunal indicated it would support a seven-day stay of the disqualification to afford Weir an opportunity to make any business arrangements for Trevenson Park and potential relocation of racehorses currently on the property.

Weir lives on the farm and would be free to continue to do so as a disqualified person.

Hill later revisited the position on the start date for Weir’s disqualification.

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

• Weir ‘had an addiction to winning races’: Waller

“We can’t exercise our rights now for example and appeal, and seek a stay elsewhere of this decision, because this decision has not really be finalised,” Hill said.

“Adjourn it to a date, as soon as possible, so this decision can be properly litigated.”

Barrister Angus Willoughby, acting for stewards, failed to block the Weir camp from being heard on when a net two-year disqualification should start, effective today or February 2023.

“I’m not sure what arguments Mr Hill is going to advance, but he has requested he also be heard and I don’t see why we should turn down that request,” Judge Bowman said.

“I don’t see why we should exclude him if he has a point to make on behalf of his client.”

Judge Bowman, during the reading of the tribunal’s “unanimous” decision, said minimum two-year disqualifications for each charge, to be served concurrently, should be adopted.

“Mr Weir, a most experienced trainer of a huge number of horses, was not only the person in charge of the operation he was the person who actually committed the act of cruelty,” Judge Bowman said.

“He was the person in charge of the horse… he was the boss, he was the hands on person who actually committed these offences.

“He was in charge of and the administration of a procedure that is abhorrent and deserved of condemnation.”

The three-person panel, including Judge Kathryn Kings and tribunal member Des Gleeson, took into account Weir’s genuine remorse, plea of guilt and “a large number of most impressive character references”.

“We have never seen such a powerful collection,” Judge Bowman said.

A $36,000 fine for animal abuse, which Weir received from a Magistrates Court in December 2022 without a conviction recorded, also formed part of the tribunal’s “just and appropriate” penalty.

Racing Victoria chairman Tim Eddy on Friday welcomed the disqualifications.

“Darren Weir, Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond’s conduct struck at the heart of the two pillars upon which the horse racing industry stands – animal welfare and integrity,” Eddy said.

“The industry’s social licence depends upon the reality and the perception that racehorses are not mistreated, and that races are conducted on an even playing field without contraventions of the Rules of Racing.

“The actions of the individuals in this case not only severely damaged racing’s reputation, but also tarnished the image of hard-working, rule-abiding individuals in our industry who devote their lives to the horses and act for the betterment of the sport.

“Judge Bowman today described their conduct as abhorrent and deserving of condemnation. We wholeheartedly agree. There is absolutely no place for jiggers in horse racing.

“Acts of cruelty on horses deserve widespread condemnation and perpetrators to be penalised. The community expects no less of racing. Yogi, Tosen Basil and Red Cardinal deserved no less.”

Weir in March pleaded guilty to using an electronic shock device, commonly referred to as a jigger or cattle prod, on racehorses Red Cardinal, Yogi and Tosen Basil in 2018.

Stewards last September laid 10 new charges against Weir and former staff Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond for animal cruelty and corruption.

The corruption charges were dismissed by the VRT in April.

The jigger inquiry was revisited in December 2022 when closed-circuit TV footage of Weir using the apparatus was submitted and viewed as evidence in a Magistrates’ Court.

Judge Bowman on Friday scolded stewards for the “unfortunate and basically unacceptable” 10-month delay between the reactivated inquiry and new charges being laid.

Originally published as Darren Weir jigger hearing: Disgraced trainer hit with further two-year disqualification over jigger use, but submissions still to be made on start date