Queensland trainer Ben Currie will not be allowed to race horses in NSW until the resolution of 31 charges levelled against him.
Racing NSW stewards issued Currie with a show cause notice on May 30 and on Thursday determined the Toowoomba trainer could not race any horses in the state pending the Queensland Racing Integrity Unit’s hearing against him.
The said they had considered Currie’s submissions.
“Racing NSW Stewards are of the view that any hardship suffered by Mr Currie by the invoking the provisions of AR50, is outweighed by the prejudice to, and undermining of, the image, interests and integrity of racing in NSW if he was permitted to nominate (and race) horses in NSW while the serious charges issued against him are yet to be determined,” a stewards’ statement said.
“In those circumstances, the “balance of convenience” is against Mr Currie and, accordingly, Racing NSW Stewards rule that, acting under the provisions of AR50, nominations of horses trained by Mr Currie will be declined to be received and/or rejected until the charges issued by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission as detailed above have been resolved.”
The relevant rule states: “All nominations and entries are subject to approval, and the Committee of any Club, or the Stewards, may decline to receive, or at any time after having received, reject any nomination or entry without giving any reason for so doing. If any nomination or entry be rejected under this Rule, the fees paid in respect thereof shall be refunded.”
The Toowoomba-based Currie, who is Queensland’s leading trainer, was last week given a stay by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal to race horses pending his hearing.
