In the defence of Racing Victoria’s chief Steward Rob Montgomery, his personal view that Darren Weir should never return is widely shared within the sport, plus Racing Victoria too.
It’s the latest tale in the Weir saga – Bruce Clark has the story here – where Montgomery gave his personal view at a Thoroughbred Club lunch that Weir should never be allowed back.
You can understand why Weir’s supporters, and there’s many, might be upset with the optics of the comments months before a possible application from Weir to return.
Should he be allowed to express such an opinion? Of course he should, for whatever reason racing is a sport void of strong opinions.
But do the comments from the man who helped investigate Weir deserve the attention they are receiving? Definitely, it’s a newsworthy statement.
Montgomery is a respected administrator, a straight shooter and viewed as a decent man in a tough role. Having a public view on such a hot topic was always going to cause gossip.
Weir was famously banned for jigging horses which was caught on camera. As Betsy wrote at the time, it’s the horrific footage that did significant damage to the sport and will probably mean he is done in racing. The former trainer is allowed to apply to return later this year.
But Montgomery is hardly Robinson Crusoe within RV and the sport with his views on Weir.
According to Clark, Montgomery said in his personal view, Weir shouldn’t be allowed to return.
“The cameras were put there for a reason,” he is alleged to have said, plus he added “how could anyone do that to a horse?’’
Betsy has previously noted that the return of Weir has been discussed at high-levels within RV, including by the board, with many previously have been of the belief Weir should never train again.
Should he decide to apply to train again, it is the RV board that will decide whether Weir is a fit and proper person. The odds his application will be rejected are Winx like.
Meaning if RV reject any application, Weir’s only path of return is if he appeals to the Supreme Court. Weir will have served his punishment in September and any possible legal challenge would be a fascinating watch.
Rejecting Weir has the backing of senior state government figures, clubs and commercial partners of the sport.
Not a single sponsor will want their name attached to a race – with their CEO handing over the trophy – to a man so high profile for the wrong reasons [which sadly for Weir, will always be mentioned alongside his significant success].
But make no mistake, Weir has his supporters too, some within the very upper echelons of Victorian racing administration. If Weir were to open a stable tomorrow to train, it would be full.
RV said in a statement Montgomery would not be involved in any decision if Weir applies to train, previously noting a conflict of interest.
”Rob Montgomery was invited to attend the Thoroughbred Club luncheon as a guest speaker. When asked a direct question as to whether Darren Weir should be relicensed again, he responded that his personal opinion was that he should not be due to the nature of his offending.”
”He did so in the knowledge that he would not be involved in any decision making regarding any possible future applications by Mr Weir for a licence with Racing Victoria. This is on the basis that he was the lead investigator and prosecutor in Mr Weir’s case and thus his participation would already be considered a conflict of interest.”
”Should Mr Weir make future application for a licence with RV it would go through the same process as any other disqualified person via the Licensing Panel and a show cause hearing before the RV Board makes the final determination. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Montgomery would not be involved in any parts of that process.”
”Licensing applications are determined in accordance with RV’s Licensing Policy and each is considered on its merits at the time of the application. RV and its relevant decision makers have formed no opinion on whether Mr Weir ought be relicensed again should he make application.’’
While of course RV would say no opinion has been formed, you can bank that there’s many who will work to make sure a Weir return doesn’t happen.
