QRIC stands down two Currie stable staff
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has confirmed it has stood down two employees of Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie during an ongoing investigation into activities at his stable.
Stewards opened an inquiry into possible breaches of race day treatment rules of a number of horses at Currie’s Toowoomba base last Saturday morning.
QRIC Integrity Investigations Team officers observed allegedly suspicious activity around the horses, some of which raced later that day at the Toowoomba Weetwood Handicap meeting.
QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett said in a statement on Friday the swabs taken from seven horses on Saturday morning and other items seized continue to be the subject of scientific analysis.
“The allocation of prize money won by the horses under investigation has been suspended pending the final outcome,” Barnett said.
“This is going to be a protracted investigation with a number of lines of inquiry including the examination of samples taken and items seized which includes CCTV equipment therefore the final outcome will most likely be several weeks away.
“This investigation has been, and will continue to be thorough, professional and impartial.”
Barnett said because of the ongoing nature of the investigation, the Commission would make no further comment at this time.
In answer to several questions from AAP, Barnett said none of Currie’s horses had been barred from working on Friday morning.
Barnett would not put a date on when a full hearing was likely and reiterated the investigations were ongoing.
Currie was Queensland’s premier trainer last season and has a commanding lead in the state title again and is fourth on the metropolitan table.
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