Racing hit with fresh jigger allegations

1 year ago

Less than a fortnight after Australia's premier trainer Darren Weir was disqualified for four years for possessing jiggers, another leading trainer faces serious animal welfare charges.

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has issued Queensland’s leading trainer by winners, Toowoomba horseman Ben Currie, with seven new alleged breaches of the rules of racing, including the alleged use of a jigger.

There are also charges relating to the use of shockwave therapy, failing to report a horse having a bleed (from the nostrils) and a raceday treatment offence.

Currie is already facing 28 charges, mainly relating to raceday treatment, following an investigation that was launched in April last year.

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Currie has been asked to show cause as to why he shouldn’t be immediately stood down.

"The very serious nature of the animal welfare allegations that have surfaced as a result of this investigation have left us with no choice but to act now in the interests of the Queensland racing industry," QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett said.

"Consideration was given to whether horses trained by Mr Currie that are nominated to run this weekend should be allowed to compete.

"We have balanced the impact on owners, connections and jockeys, the need to protect the image of the Queensland racing industry, and legal considerations in arriving at the decision to allow nominated horses to compete this weekend.

"However this position will be reviewed after Monday's stewards' inquiry.

"Also, none of Mr Currie's horses nominated to race this weekend are the subject of these latest alleged breaches of the rules which are historic in nature."

Queensland’s leading trainer by winners for the past two seasons, Currie has been training on a stay of proceedings granted at QCAT after being stood down by QRIC in June.

Currie's father Mark, who works for his son, was disqualified for two years on several raceday treatment offences stemming from the April, 2018 investigation, but secured a stay of proceedings. His appeal at QCAT will be heard in May.

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