With the recent four year ban hitting Australia’s best-winning trainer hard, I ask the question Weir are we now?
Is it just one trainer amongst thousands that has been doing the wrong thing? Or do you follow the narrative of the Herald Sun article stating the practices used by Australia’s most-loved trainer is widespread?
In an industry that is so heavily scrutinised by media, animal welfare activists, and just about anyone that doesn’t love it, we find ourselves consistently having to defend our wonderful sport. If anyone takes a drive out to a trainer’s complex, you’ll find it full of caring people who love horses and treat them with more care and respect than we ourselves treat each other.
I do believe the penalty fits the crime in this instance because of the negative impact this issue has had on our industry’s reputation, but yet again we have to defend the entire industry from the ruthless media.
Sure, these things were probably common practice back in the day, and if you’ve had the pleasure of being hit by a charged energy device it is certainly uncomfortable, but they are not life threatening. In NO WAY am I condoning the use of jiggers, but as times are changing very rapidly and society’s expectation of high-level athletes are ever increasing, these archaic practices must be stamped out to preserve our industry.
So, now with a lump in his throat and his legacy shattered Darren Weir copped what came his way, chose to take it on the chin and decided to not drag it out further by contesting the charges that could have damaged our industry even more.
Weir are we now? In the same position as after the Fine Cotton saga, the Aquanita scandal and that pesky Cobalt fallout, with the broader public questioning our sport and asking who can be trusted.
Unfortunately, we don’t know who is following the rules of racing to the letter of the law, and we never will. However, with the lengths Racing Victoria have gone to uncover the ‘jigger bandits’ we can all rest easy knowing that no matter how big you are, or how many horses you’ve got, if you don’t play by the rules someone will be watching.
It’s a beautiful sport full of wonderful animals and dedicated, honest and hard-working people. As Mick Price said “We didn’t invent lack of integrity, it’s human nature”. Our industry has heavily invested in integrity and this is the proof that it’s working.
This sport is bigger than 1 person and the show will roll on, even if we can’t “back Weir and drink beer” anymore!
Yours in the punt!
Mr Punter.