PartialLogo
International

Australian trainer Ben Currie charged with serious welfare breaches

Trainer Ben Currie is seen after Jag Guthmann-Chester rode Mishani Vaidra to victory in race 2, the BenchMark 70 Handicap, during Tattersalls Celebration Season Race Day at Doomben Racecourse in Brisbane, Saturday, November 24, 2018. (AAP Image/Albert Per
Ben Currie: charged with several serious welfare breaches including alleged use of a jiggerCredit: Albert Perez

Australian trainer Ben Currie has been charged with several serious welfare breaches including the alleged use of a jigger on two occasions to give electric shocks to horses.

Currie has been accused of using unauthorised shockwave treatments, failure to report bleeding horses and race day treatment breaches contrary to the rules of racing, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission said in a statement.

It follows the four-year ban given to fellow Australian trainer Darren Weir for possessing jiggers, which are Taser-type devices.

Currie trains at Toowoomba, 80 miles west of Brisbane, and is one of Queensland’s leading trainers.

Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said the investigation began on April 7 last year.

He said: "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.”

Currie has been called to a stewards' inquiry on Monday, but before that his runners have been given the green light to race this weekend.


Get exclusive insight from the track and live tipping with our up-to-the-minute service on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app


Published on 15 February 2019inInternational

Last updated 19:17, 15 February 2019

iconCopy