Chief Stipe Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Disgraced Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir has been charged by Victorian police over animal cruelty and conspiracy offences. A statement from Victoria police said that detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit had charged four men on summons as part of an investigation into alleged illegal activity within the thoroughbred racing industry. Weir, 49, was issued with nine charges including: Conspiracy to defraud Racing Victoria Limited Stewards; Section 9(1)(a) of Prevention Cruelty to Animals Act - engaging in the torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying of a Thoroughbred Race Horse x 3; Section 9(1)(c) of Prevention Cruelty to Animals Act - causing unreasonable pain or suffering to a Thoroughbred Race Horse x 3; Possess Unregistered Category A longarm. Use controlled weapon without excuse. Three other men were also charged, including a 39-year-old Yangery man, who faces 16 charges including: Conspiracy to defraud Racing Victoria Limited Stewards; 195C Engage in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of event or event contingency x 2; 195F Use of Corrupt Conduct Information x 5; Section 9(1)(a) of Prevention Cruelty to Animals Act - engaging in the torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying of a Thoroughbred Race Horse x 3; Section 9(1)(c) of Prevention Cruelty to Animals Act- causing unreasonable pain or suffering to a Thoroughbred Race Horse x 3; and Possess Drug of Dependence (Cocaine). A 27-year-old Warrnambool man has been issued seven charges including: Conspiracy to Defraud Racing Victoria Limited Stewards; Section 9(1)(a) of Prevention Cruelty to Animals Act - engaging in the torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying of a Thoroughbred Race Horse x 3; and Section 9(1)(c) of Prevention Cruelty to Animals Act - causing unreasonable pain or suffering to a Thoroughbred Race Horse x 3. A 31-year-old Warrnambool man has been charged with one count of 195F Use of Corrupt Conduct Information. All four will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 23 October. Weir was disqualified for four years by Racing Victoria in February after he offered no explanation for three electric shock devices (jiggers) being found hidden in his master bedroom. The Melbourne Cup-winning handler has since been interviewed by police investigating allegations relating to the alleged corruption of races and animal cruelty. The Herald Sun reports that photographic evidence iwas presented to Weir during the course of interviews amid suggestions horses had been struck with the jiggers while exercising on treadmills. Victoria Police’s Sporting Integrity Intelligence unit has interviewed Weir and McLean on several occasions, following multiple lines of inquiry. The unit is probing activity including obtaining financial advantage by deception and engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of an event or event contingency. Several races from last year are under scrutiny. The Victoria police statement said the charges "follow a number of warrants that were executed at properties in Miners Rest and Warrnambool on 30 January, 2019." "A number of items including a firearm and what is believed to be conducted energy devices were also seized from the properties," the statement said. ''Detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit have also been assisted by Racing Victoria during this investigation." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy connolly Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 14 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Section 9(1)(a) of Prevention Cruelty to Animals Act - engaging in the torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying of a Thoroughbred Race Horse x 3; Tortured, abused, overworked and terrified racehorses wouldn't have performed as well as Weir's have. 14 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: The unit is probing activity including obtaining financial advantage by deception and engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of an event or event contingency. What does the alleged corruption of races entail ? 14 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: The Herald Sun reports that photographic evidence iwas presented to Weir during the course of interviews amid suggestions horses had been struck with the jiggers while exercising on treadmills. Who was the PRICK who planted the photographic evidence and who was the PRICK who blew the gaff ? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 9, 2019 Author Share Posted October 9, 2019 Smells like INCA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandpiper Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 3 hours ago, billy connolly said: Who was the PRICK who planted the photographic evidence and who was the PRICK who blew the gaff ? Sorry to be dumb. How can photographic evidence get planted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boulevard21 Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Three jiggers found in the master bedroom and everybody is concerned about horse welfare! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 10 hours ago, Boulevard21 said: Three jiggers found in the master bedroom and everybody is concerned about horse welfare! Oh yeah ... whereas if we were really dealing with animal cruelty they would have been in the barn hung up with teh head collars eh Boulevard .... Oh and I love the victim (or in this case - witness) blaming from one of the posts above - it's now all the fault of the "nark" and we should turn on that person & leave Darren alone. Geez you guys can be special sometimes .... (and if it was all meant to be a joke and a play on words about the "PRICK" & the jigger - I just didn't find it all that funny). 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Centaur Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 Unless John Allen has got some deal for singing its going to be hilarious the judge or jury deciding what is a corrupt riding style. Strange how these "charges" have surfaced at the height of the racing season. And oh.. the betting irregularities. Well after 8 months they are still investigating them and scrutinizing the videos. This looks, smells and feels like a beat up. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boulevard21 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 12 hours ago, jess said: Oh yeah ... whereas if we were really dealing with animal cruelty they would have been in the barn hung up with teh head collars eh Boulevard .... Oh and I love the victim (or in this case - witness) blaming from one of the posts above - it's now all the fault of the "nark" and we should turn on that person & leave Darren alone. Geez you guys can be special sometimes .... (and if it was all meant to be a joke and a play on words about the "PRICK" & the jigger - I just didn't find it all that funny). Hi Jess the joke was not about horses or pricks. It was jiggers in the master bedroom. Obviously my blond humour should be locked away and I bow to your superior comedic ability. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquaman Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 They are like a dog with a bone, just won't let go. Weir was a top trainer as evidenced by how well his horses performed when given to other trainers. They being the other trainers all spoke how well his horses were when transferred to their stables, and they performed accordingly. John Allen is an Irish jocky, they have a very different whip style, as do the Europeans. Weir was railroaded in my view, and 4 yrs after pleading guilty was manifestly excessive. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 3 minutes ago, aquaman said: They are like a dog with a bone, just won't let go. Weir was a top trainer as evidenced by how well his horses performed when given to other trainers. They being the other trainers all spoke how well his horses were when transferred to their stables, and they performed accordingly. John Allen is an Irish jocky, they have a very different whip style, as do the Europeans. Weir was railroaded in my view, and 4 yrs after pleading guilty was manifestly excessive. Dazza was the greatest trainer AUS ever had, not far in front of Robbie Smerdon, his absence is destroying racing, the jiggers were to be used on lazy staff, they were too slow to give carrots, apples and pats, the criminal charges pending are nothing to worry about, a frame up, plenty of Barristers will get him off, Nicole Gobbo [google her] for one, and poor Johnny, the most loyal people on earth are jockey's everyone knows that, he will look after Dazza financially, I'd bet my last on that. The sooner the stewards and the police are held to account for the false accusations and charges the better......I can't wager until Dazza Weir is back in the training ranks and everything returns to normal! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kopia Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 It appears-and the evidence at trial may support this-that it was about pain association. So in training/on treadmill etc pain was inflicted on horses with prods and probably other means while they were wearing blinkers. When they wanted a top raceday effort from the horse, blinkers were applied and the horse, fearing pain, would respond accordingly. If the evidence does indeed support this, then Weir and the rest of them can rot in hell as far as I am concerned. And should never be permitted to be involved with any animals-ever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy connolly Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 2 hours ago, Kopia said: Weir and the rest of them can rot in hell as far as I am concerned. And should never be permitted to be involved with any animals-ever. Oh dear, another imbecile from the gallows .... one of God's own disciples, too weird to live and too rare to die. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kopia Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 1 hour ago, billy connolly said: Oh dear, another imbecile from the gallows .... one of God's own disciples, too weird to live and too rare to die. Billy I read recently that your namesake ( the real Billy Connolly ) is near death after suffering the effects of Parkinsons for many years......are you in a similar state? I say that as you seem to have missed the first part of that sentence of mine that you quoted.. " If the evidence does indeed support this then Weir and the rest of them can rot in hell...etc" If you are going to insult people and quote them, maybe try to do the job properly?? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Centaur Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 The charges (excuse the pun) are constructed in flowery language that is obvious. e.g. "terrified and overworked". Most farmers including many horse farms use an electric fence. I've seen electric fences at studs running along the top of permanent fences keeping in stallions. I've used an electric fence both for cattle and horses mainly ponies without any problems. I daresay a jigger would hardly have more current than a fence. If the once only use of a jigger is termed cruelty then every farmer in NZ should be up for cruelty. However if the racing rules have been transgressed then that's where the legal action should begin and end. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newmarket Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 On 9/10/2019 at 8:11 PM, Sandpiper said: Sorry to be dumb. How can photographic evidence get planted? Must have dug a hole and hid a camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquaman Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 I remember being in a bar in Mexico where peddlers would come around with a gizmo that would provide an electric shock. They had the devise around their neck with a wind handle. The punter in the bar would hold the terminal in the hand and receive an electric currant from the peddler who would wind the handle on his box. The faster he would wind the handle the greater the currant the punter received. The idea of all this was to see who was the bravest on the amount they could take, and they paid for the privilege. I do not see a lot wrong with cattle prods, jiggers, or electric dog collars, they all have their place as training tools. Same can be said for electric fences. Complete over reaction in the Weir saga, all hysteria whipped up by people that wouldn't know cruelty to animals if they fell over it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 1 hour ago, aquaman said: I remember being in a bar in Mexico where peddlers would come around with a gizmo that would provide an electric shock. They had the devise around their neck with a wind handle. The punter in the bar would hold the terminal in the hand and receive an electric currant from the peddler who would wind the handle on his box. The faster he would wind the handle the greater the currant the punter received. The idea of all this was to see who was the bravest on the amount they could take, and they paid for the privilege. I do not see a lot wrong with cattle prods, jiggers, or electric dog collars, they all have their place as training tools. Same can be said for electric fences. Complete over reaction in the Weir saga, all hysteria whipped up by people that wouldn't know cruelty to animals if they fell over it. Seek help Aqua, you've obviously surfaced too quickly and are now suffering the bends. #delusional 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasel Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 On 11/10/2019 at 3:36 PM, The Centaur said: The charges (excuse the pun) are constructed in flowery language that is obvious. e.g. "terrified and overworked". Most farmers including many horse farms use an electric fence. I've seen electric fences at studs running along the top of permanent fences keeping in stallions. I've used an electric fence both for cattle and horses mainly ponies without any problems. I daresay a jigger would hardly have more current than a fence. If the once only use of a jigger is termed cruelty then every farmer in NZ should be up for cruelty. However if the racing rules have been transgressed then that's where the legal action should begin and end. Centaur, it seems to me you are making excuses for DW and Co ... deliberately applying an electric shock to an animal is a lot different from having an electrified fence as a means of keeping a horse safely enclosed. Moreover, IF it is proved that DW and Co used this 'training' method in association with the use of blinkers on a treadmill to prepare a horse for a particular race where a betting plunge was 'on' ...well, the implications are severe, arent they? Apparently three races are being investigated in this respect. We await the trial and the evidence. A shame that this all starts to unfold going into Cox Plate weekend. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Centaur Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 6 hours ago, Weasel said: Centaur, it seems to me you are making excuses for DW and Co ... deliberately applying an electric shock to an animal is a lot different from having an electrified fence as a means of keeping a horse safely enclosed. Moreover, IF it is proved that DW and Co used this 'training' method in association with the use of blinkers on a treadmill to prepare a horse for a particular race where a betting plunge was 'on' ...well, the implications are severe, arent they? Apparently three races are being investigated in this respect. We await the trial and the evidence. A shame that this all starts to unfold going into Cox Plate weekend. Haven't seen any proof or legit evidence of Weir or anyone being cruel. He had huge operation with many staff. It would be impossible to be cruel on a permanent basis without someone objecting. The odd case could happen but so many horses there is always going to be an exception. As for the betting plunges, Well every stable in Australia would be banned if betting plunges were illegal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 This whole affair is a beat-up, the cutting down of a tall poppy whose success knew no bounds. The emotive language in the charges a farce. A jigger or a cattle prod ? They are the same thing -a battery charged device designed to give an electrical shock . Cattle prods are used by bull farmers and stock carriers to induce a bull to go up a race or onto a truck. What is the difference between use on a bull or a horse ? Why have all the bull farmers in Australia not been charged by the police? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 44 minutes ago, Fred said: This whole affair is a beat-up, the cutting down of a tall poppy whose success knew no bounds. The emotive language in the charges a farce. A jigger or a cattle prod ? They are the same thing -a battery charged device designed to give an electrical shock . Cattle prods are used by bull farmers and stock carriers to induce a bull to go up a race or onto a truck. What is the difference between use on a bull or a horse ? Why have all the bull farmers in Australia not been charged by the police? Why don't you and Aqua meet up Fred? You could lock yourselves in a small room and prod yourselves all you like, there's an idea. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy connolly Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 1 hour ago, Fred said: This whole affair is a beat-up, the cutting down of a tall poppy whose success knew no bounds. The emotive language in the charges a farce. Correct, a self made man, he wasn't born with a silver spoon à la Hayes, Waterhouse etc. There are far worse cases of animal/horse abuse going on every day and in my opinion every horse trainer in the "concrete jungle" of Hong Kong/Singapore should be prosecuted for locking locking their charges in a confined horse box 24/7 ! Weir has been adequately dealt with via the rules of racing without police intervention, the police have opened a big can of worms here. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasel Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 5 hours ago, billy connolly said: Correct, a self made man, he wasn't born with a silver spoon à la Hayes, Waterhouse etc. There are far worse cases of animal/horse abuse going on every day and in my opinion every horse trainer in the "concrete jungle" of Hong Kong/Singapore should be prosecuted for locking locking their charges in a confined horse box 24/7 ! Weir has been adequately dealt with via the rules of racing without police intervention, the police have opened a big can of worms here. nonsense. It as nothing to with his background and everything to do with proving or disproving cruelty to animals with or without the motive of assisting a betting operation. Take yer blinkers off and try to keep an open mind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomass Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 On 14/10/2019 at 10:21 AM, billy connolly said: Correct, a self made man, he wasn't born with a silver spoon à la Hayes, Waterhouse etc. There are far worse cases of animal/horse abuse going on every day and in my opinion every horse trainer in the "concrete jungle" of Hong Kong/Singapore should be prosecuted for locking locking their charges in a confined horse box 24/7 ! Weir has been adequately dealt with via the rules of racing without police intervention, the police have opened a big can of worms here. Oh my....there's about 3 posters belonging to the lunatic fringe here...and you get the loon fringe festival award.... Lets make this abundantly clear for the 'non horseman' sect... Any animal within a confined space, with no means of 'flight' while being prodded with an electric current...with a mob including WEIR...standing by watching ...IS BEING TORTURED Nothing's clearer.... The means to an end was to MAKE MONEY...either through Stake money or the punt... Its criminal fraud 101 and the Grey Bar Hotel is what they deserve.... 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boulevard21 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Is Grey Bar Hotel somewhere on the coast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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