Weir, McLean charged, horses scratched

By Bren O'Brien

Racing Victoria stewards have issued six charges against champion trainer Darren Weir under the Australian Rules of Racing and ordered the scratching of 30 horses across Victorian race meetings over the weekend.

RV issued charges against Weir late on Friday, as well as four against assistant trainer Jarrod McLean and two against staff member Tyson Kermond.

Weir and McLean were also issued show cause notices as to why stewards shouldn’t immediately suspend their training licences given the gravity of the charges they both face.

Stewards placed an interim order preventing Weir and McLean from having any runners until the show cause hearing continues at 2pm on Monday.

"The stewards have imposed an interim order that all horses accepted to race from the Darren Weir and Jarrod McLean stables from tonight at Moonee Valley through until Monday be withdrawn with immediate effect pending the conduct of a show cause hearing,” RV Executive General Manager – Integrity, Jamie Stier said.

“The stewards are concerned about the seriousness of the threat posed by Mr Weir’s and Mr McLean’s alleged possession of an electronic apparatus. This is a significant issue in terms of animal welfare and racing integrity. "

“The investigation has caused considerable public concern, and has generated considerable negative publicity, bringing into question the impact on the image, interests and integrity of racing of Mr Weir and Mr McLean’s continued participation in racing pending the hearing of the charges."

“The stewards also have significant concerns regarding the police involvement in relation to Mr Weir and Mr McLean’s training activities is having on public confidence in racing. "

“We understand the timing of this order has impacts for owners, punters and race clubs, whom we sympathise with, however in the opinion of the stewards the integrity and reputation of the sport is paramount."

“In issuing this interim order, it should be noted that investigations are ongoing."

The charges follow a raid of a series of properties linked to the champion trainer on Wednesday by Victoria Police and RV Stewards which saw the seizure of four electronic devices, or jiggers, as well as an unlicensed firearm and a small amount of cocaine.

Weir, McLean and Kermond were arrested and interviewed by police on Wednesday and then attended a Racing Victoria inquiry on Thursday.

Having issues the charges on Friday, stewards then made the call to scratch 29 of Weir's runners and one of McLean's at 4:50pm, just an hour and 40 minutes before the first race at Moonee Valley.

Weir was charged three times under AR175 (hh) (ii) 'Possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse' for three 'jiggers' reportedly seized from his Miner's Rest stables on Wednesday.

He was also charged under AR 175(f) 'Failure to give evidence at an inquiry' as well as the alternate charge of AR175(p) 'Failure to comply with a direction of the stewards'. This relates to the inquiry conducted on Thursday, the day after the raids.

The final charge relates to AR175A, 'Conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing'.

Similarly McLean was charged once under AR175 (hh) (ii) 'Possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse' as well as AR 175(f) and AR175(p) as well as AR175A.

Kermond was charged with 'Failure to give evidence at an inquiry' and 'Failure to comply with a direction of the stewards'.

On Thursday, Racing NSW had issued Weir with a show cause notice as to why it should accept any nominations Weir put in for that state. Weir didn’t have any entries in New South Wales in the coming days.

Racing Queensland said it would not issue a show cause for Weir in a statement released on Friday.

List of charges

The full stewards statement:

Racing Victoria (RV) stewards have this afternoon issued charges under the Australian Rules of Racing (AR) against licensed trainers Darren Weir and Jarrod McLean and licensed foreperson Tyson Kermond following an inquiry at the RV offices on 31 January 2019.

The inquiry was opened following the execution of search warrants by Victoria Police on 30 January 2019 at properties in Ballarat and Warrnambool that saw three licensed participants arrested and later released without charge.

DARREN WEIR

Stewards have this afternoon issued six charges, of which two are in the alternative, against Mr Weir as follows:

Charge 1 – AR 175(hh)(ii) Possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse

The summary of the particulars of the charge being that, on or about 30 January 2019, Mr Weir was in the possession, at a Miners Rest premises used in relation to the training or racing of horses, of an electric or electronic apparatus designed to deliver an electric shock.

Charge 2 – AR 175(hh)(ii) Possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse

The summary of the particulars of the charge being that, on or about 30 January 2019, Mr Weir was in the possession, at a Miners Rest premises used in relation to the training or racing of horses, of a second electric or electronic apparatus designed to deliver an electric shock.

Charge 3 – AR 175(hh)(ii) Possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse

The summary of the particulars of the charge being that, on or about 30 January 2019, Mr Weir was in the possession, at a Miners Rest premises used in relation to the training or racing of horses, of a third electric or electronic apparatus designed to deliver an electric shock.

Charge 4 – AR 175(f) Failure to give evidence at an inquiry

The summary of the particulars being that during the course of an inquiry at the RV offices on 31 January 2019, Mr Weir refused and/or failed to give evidence in accordance with a direction and/or request of the stewards.

Charge 5 – AR175(p) Failure to comply with a direction of the stewards [Alternative to Charge 4]

The summary of the particulars being that Mr Weir refused and/or failed to comply with a direction of the stewards on 31 January 2019 to answer questions in relation to an inquiry.

Charge 6 – AR175A Conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing

The summary of the particulars being that Mr Weir’s conduct in possessing three electric or electronic apparatus, which has been widely reported in the media, and his failure to proffer an explanation to the stewards, was prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing.

The charges issued against Mr Weir will be heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board on a date to be fixed.

JARROD MCLEAN

Stewards have this afternoon issued four charges, of which two are in the alternative, against Mr McLean as follows:

Charge 1 – AR 175(hh)(ii) Possession of an electric or electronic apparatus capable of affecting the performance of a horse

The summary of the particulars of the charge being that, on or about 30 January 2019, Mr McLean was in the possession at a Yangery property of an electric or electronic apparatus designed to deliver an electric shock.

Charge 2 – AR 175(f) Failure to give evidence at an inquiry

The summary of the particulars being that during the course of an inquiry at the RV offices on 31 January 2019, Mr McLean refused and/or failed to give evidence in accordance with a direction and/or request of the stewards.

Charge 3 – AR175(p) Failure to comply with a direction of the stewards [Alternative to Charge 2]

The summary of the particulars being that Mr McLean refused and/or failed to comply with a direction of the stewards on 31 January 2019 to answer questions in relation to an inquiry.

Charge 4 – AR175A Conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing

The summary of the particulars being that Mr McLean’s conduct in possessing an electric or electronic apparatus, which has been widely reported in the media, and his failure to proffer an explanation to the stewards was prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing.

The charges issued against Mr McLean will be heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board on a date to be fixed.

TYSON KERMOND

Stewards have this afternoon issued two charges in the alternative against Mr Kermond as follows:

Charge 1 – AR 175(f) Failure to give evidence at an inquiry

The summary of the particulars being that during the course of an inquiry at the RV offices on 31 January 2019, Mr Kermond refused and/or failed to give evidence in accordance with a direction and/or request of the stewards.

Charge 2 – AR175(p) Failure to comply with a direction of the stewards [Alternative to Charge 1]

The summary of the particulars being that Mr Kermond refused and/or failed to comply with a direction of the stewards on 31 January 2019 to answer questions in relation to an inquiry.

The charges issued against Mr Kermond will be heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board on a date to be fixed.