Darren Weir Found Not Guilty of Race-Fixing, Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty Charges
The Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) has cleared former trainer Darren Weir of charges that he attempted to alter the outcome of horse races, including the 2018 Melbourne Cup. The VRT concluded that while video footage showed the use of a jigger on three of Weir’s horses, it could not definitively determine that this device had influenced the results of any races.
Weir, along with Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond, had also faced charges of dishonest and corrupt conduct. However, these charges were dismissed. The three men have previously pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and welfare charges and will attend a hearing next week to finalize their penalties.
Weir was fined $36,000 after admitting to using an electronic cattle prod on three horses. He has not trained since January 2019, when he was disqualified for four years for possessing a jigger.
Weir’s career spanned from humble beginnings as a strapper to employing nearly 200 people to work with over 500 horses. He won the Melbourne Cup in 2015 with Michelle Payne’s historic victory on Prince Of Penzance.
