‘Jigger’ video footage used as evidence during Weir tribunal opening

A Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) has shown video footage of Darren Weir using an electronic shock device on three racehorses during his reign as Australia’s champion trainer.

Weir pleaded guilty to seven animal cruelty charges when he fronted the VRT on Monday.

But he pleaded not guilty to three charges levelled against him for corrupt, dishonest and misleading conduct.

The 15-minute video is a fundamental piece of evidence in Racing Victoria’s case against Weir and two stable employees, Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond.

It shows Weir using the device that is known throughout the industry as a “jigger” as well as a pipe on Red Cardinal, Tosen Basil and Yogi while the horses were being exercised on a treadmill.

Possession and the use of “jiggers” is prohibited in racing.

The hearing was told the Victoria Police video surveillance footage was taken at Weir’s Warrnambool stable on October 30, 2018.

Red Cardinal ran in the Melbourne Cup a week later and finished 23rd of the 24 runners.

Yogi ran four days after the video was taken when midfield in a Melbourne Cup lead-up at Flemington while Tosen Basil was a Melbourne Cup entry but did not accept for the race after losing form following an Underwood Stakes placing.

At the time, Weir was a runaway leader as he chased a sixth successive Australian trainers’ title after preparing a record 489.5 winners during the 2017/18 racing season.

Former RV chief steward Robert Cram gave evidence on Monday.

Via a video link, McLean and Kermond entered the same pleas, except for a not guilty plea to a charge with being party to, and knowingly involved in, Weir’s use of a jigger.

The vision was first shown when Weir, McLean and Kermond appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court where they avoided criminal conviction after pleading guilty to lesser animal abuse charges.

Weir and McLean were fined a total of $36,000 and Kermond was ordered to pay $10,000 to the RSPCA.

But based on the contents of video, RV stewards reopened an inquiry before issuing 10 new charges against the trio in late 2o23.

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.

The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer was given a four-year ban from racing that ended on February 6 last year.

Weir has since established a pre-training business.

The hearing continues.