Ben Currie files for review on racing ban

Trainer Ben Currie, facing more than 40 charges, wants an internal review into his four-year ban.

Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie has lodged an application for an internal review of a stewards’ decision to disqualify him for four years on two charges of bringing racing into disrepute.

On Friday, stewards disqualified Currie two years on each charge under Australian Rules of racing AR 175 (a) but made them cumulative.

Currie’s barrister Jim Murdoch said an internal review application had been lodged with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission late on Friday.

QRIC has 20 working days to hear the application which is expected to be scheduled for late this month.

Murdoch said in the meantime an application for a stay would be lodged with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Monday.

“At this stage we do not have a date for the stay application but we are hoping to get on this Friday,” Murdoch said.

He said it was intended to proceed with a judicial review application into separate issue of Racing Queensland refusing Currie’s nominations in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Currie had been facing 42 allegations some dating back more than a year and the two charges are the first to be resolved.

Stewards charged Currie last month with two counts which originally involved allegations of using a jigger or instructing someone else to use a jigger in 2015 and 2016.

However, after hearing submissions stewards discontinued those charges and continued alternate charges which effectively cover bringing racing into disrepute.

The alternate charges were based on text messages Currie sent to staff or friends.

Currie was found guilty of the two charges and his lawyers made written submissions on penalty.

After considering the submissions the stewards announced in a short statement Currie had been disqualified for four years.

He has been given until Friday to move his horses to other stables with at least 26 already gone to other trainers.

QRIC did not say on what precedents they based the four years which is the same penalty imposed on Victorian trainer Darren Weir who was found in possession of two jiggers.