Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have this afternoon charged trainer Darren Weir with breaching AR175(gg) of the Rules of Racing.
Under AR 175, The Principal Racing Authority (or the Stewards exercising powers delegated to them) may penalise:
(gg) Any person who makes any false or misleading statement or declaration in respect of any matter in connection with the administration or control of racing.
The particulars of the charge being:
On 3 August Mr Weir did, via email from stable staff to the Ballarat Turf Club, falsely and misleadingly declare the name of seven horses, those being Spicer, Pelonomena, Kragle, Bindabooberri, French Fry, Ancient Echoes and Mio Nipotina, as having jumped out at Ballarat on 1 August in specific heats. As a result, the jump out information provided to the public for these heats was incorrect.
Mr Weir’s actions, as listed above, constitutes a false and misleading declaration under AR175(gg).
During the inquiry it was established that the correct horse identities were as follows:
- Horse listed as Spicer in Heat 1 was Imperial Edition
- Horse listed as Pelonomena in Heat 1 was Diamond Diva
- Horse listed as Kragle in Heat 3 was Masterbrax
- Horse listed as Bindabooberri in Heat 3 was Rewarding Girl
- Horse listed as French Fry in Heat 7 was Holy Freeze
- Horse listed as Ancient Echoes in Heat 7 was Buck Bay
- Horse listed as Mio Nipotina in Heat 11 was Vogue Empress
Mr Weir plead guilty to the charge and Stewards acting under LR 6C(2A) fined him the sum of $5,000.
In assessing the matter Stewards took into account Mr Weir’s guilty plea, evidence during the inquiry, that an initial email to the Ballarat Turf Club gave weight to the evidence that the offence was not premeditated, the circumstances surrounding the incident and the fact that the incident has the ability to erode the confidence of the industry.
Stewards further wish to remind trainers that as of Monday, 1 October they must ensure that any horse nominated in jump outs which are listed in the Inside Racing publication must be correctly named and identified.