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Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir has been disqualified from racing for four years by Racing Victoria, after a disciplinary hearing was told electric-shock 'jiggers' were found in his bedroom.
He was banned for possessing the outlawed devices, which are known to be used to mentally condition horses to run faster in races, and for behaviour prejudicial to the image of racing.
Judge John Bowman said Weir's rags to riches story, which he detailed, made his "fall sadder and more tragic".
Mr Bowman said Weir would now be remembered for his association with "instruments of cruelty" and "high level cheating".
The charges were laid by Racing Victoria following joint raids with Victoria Police at several properties last week, including Weir's stables near Ballarat and Warrnambool.
Weir opted not to fight the Racing Victoria charges relating to the jiggers.
- Born in the town of Berriwillock in Victoria's north-west
- Left school at 15 and began work in the horse-racing industry
- Took out his own trainer's licence aged 25, when based at Stawell
- Expanded operations to Ballarat and Warrnambool as his success grew
- Won 348 races in the 2015-16 season, setting a new Commonwealth training record
- Trained the 2015 Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance
Racing Victoria's lawyer, Jeff Gleeson QC, said someone of Weir's standing, who could not explain why they had jiggers in their possession, required disqualification.
He told the hearing the location of the jiggers, in a master bedroom, indicated Weir had "a direct and personal" knowledge of them and a "desire to conceal the devices".
He said Weir was putting "winning ahead of welfare of horses" and had "tarnished" the industry in a way that was "unforgettable".
Weir had offered no expression of remorse, and had not given an explanation why that was the case, Mr Gleeson said.
Although he conceded that could be because of the ongoing police investigation.
Weir's legal representative, Patrick Wheelahan, stated that while the racing identity made an agreement with Racing Victoria stewards regarding a four-year disqualification, he did not agree with the submissions made by Mr Gleeson.
Mr Wheelahan said his client wanted to have his case dealt with straight away as he had witnessed cases that went on for years, causing more damage to the industry.
He said Weir felt terrible about the situation and his decision not to contest the charges showed his remorse.
"It's all happened very quickly and that's a great credit to him," Mr Wheelahan said.
"He's instructed us from the start that he's adamant that he didn't want to waste any more time as far as Racing Victoria's concerned and he's very, very sad about it.
"He's been emotional right through, he's pretty solid sort of fellow, a good country boy, so he'll be glad it's all over now, [so he can] get on with the rest of his life."
Racing Victoria has given Weir 10 days to enter training sites to coordinate the transfer of horses from his care.
Its executive general manager of integrity, Jaimie Stier, said he would not be allowed to do any training in that time.
"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," Mr Stier said.
Topics: sport, horse-racing, animal-welfare, law-crime-and-justice, miners-rest-3352, ballarat-3350, warrnambool-3280, melbourne-3000, vic
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