Ben Currie issued show cause notice over jigger use by QRIC
QUEENSLAND trainer Ben Currie has been issued with seven fresh charges by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) as the investigation into Currie Racing intensifies.
Among the new charges are allegations of the use of a jigger on two occasions, unauthorised shockwave treatments as well as race-day treatment breaches that contravene the rules of racing.
Currie was issued with a show cause notice on Friday to explain why he shouldn’t be suspended following these allegations.
Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said Currie will front the QRIC on Monday.
“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,” Mr Barnett said.
“Mr Currie has been called to a Steward’s Inquiry on Monday 18 February at 10am to show cause why he should not be suspended.”
The use of jiggers has been a hot topic of discussion in racing circles following the Darren Weir saga that sent the sports world into a frenzy.
Weir was disqualified from training for four years after electing not to contest the charges of possession of a jigger.
The allegations of jigger use leveled at Currie date back to 2016.
Stewards will allege he instructed the use of a jigger to deliver an electric shock in an act of cruelty on Cordon Rouge prior to racing at Gatton on 30 July 2016. They will also allege that between 1 March 2016 and 7 March 2016 that Currie allegedly used a jigger on a horse that has been designed to deliver an electric shock.
Currie, who is currently fifth on the Queensland Trainers Premiership leader board will be free to train horses over the weekend until the matter is heard on Monday.
Barnett said it would be unfair to penalise the other participants associated with team Currie heading into the weekend.
“Consideration was given to whether horses trained by Mr Currie that are nominated to run this weekend should be allowed to compete,” he said.
“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 Steward’s Inquiry.
“Also,none of Mr Currie’s horses nominated to race this weekend are the subject ofthese latest alleged breaches of the rules which are historic in nature.”
The investigation into Currie racing began in April of last year and is still ongoing.