A Victorian Racing Tribunal decision on charges against Darren Weir has been reserved after a three-day hearing ended on Wednesday.
Weir and former staff members Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond appeared before the tribunal on animal abuse and corruption charges.
Closing submissions from counsel for Racing Victoria, Weir, McLean and Kermond were heard on Wednesday.
Tribunal panel chair Judge John Bowman told the hearing a decision could be handed down early next week.
Weir is accused of trying to corrupt the outcome of three races - the Lexus Stakes, the Melbourne Cup and the Sandown Cup - during the 2018 Victorian spring carnival.
He pleaded guilty on Monday to seven charges relating to animal cruelty over the use of an electronic shock device known as a “weapon jigger”.
Police surveillance footage of Weir using the device on Tosen Basil, Red Cardinal and Yogi was shown during the first day of the hearing.
Weir’s barrister Ian Hill KC argued that the case against the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer related to animal cruelty and not corrupt behaviour.
Hill said Weir did not intend to gain an unfair in any race involving the three horses after the video was recorded on October 30, 2018.
Weir merely wanted his horses to “race to their potential”, Hill told the hearing.
Staff Writer
Weir pleaded not guilty to three charges levelled against him for corrupt, dishonest and misleading conduct.
In 2019, Weir was found guilty by Racing Victoria's racing appeals and disciplinary board of possessing three outlawed electric-shock devices and one charge of conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing.
He was given a four-year ban from racing that ended on February 6 last year.
