“The time is too long, but I haven’t decided anything yet."
Darren Weir prepared another Melbourne Cup aspirant Saturday. That despite being despised and ostracised from the racing industry.
Weir is now on the road to nowhere professionally. Some say deservedly so.
Today though he is on the road somewhere – taking him away from it all.
That horse, by the way, was Point King, winning The Archer and a ticket into the first Tuesday again for Lloyd Williams and James Packer, having been through Weir’s now closed pre-training system at Trevenson Park at Baringhup.
Point King is just one of a conga-line of big winners to have been through Weir’s hands before handed back to their registered trainers, Weir of course outed from racing over the jigger scandal dating back to 2019 and still simmering and impacting himself, family, workers and clients even today.
Chris Waller, Gerry Ryan, Nick Ryan, Tony Ottobre, just some of the many “names” who have backed and leaned on Weir’s horsemanship, with his daughters Taige and Bonnie, running the 40 staff employed at the uniquely Weir crafted property between Ballarat and Bendigo.
After a barefoot bowls day at Maldon last week (just $100 to rent the joint), Weir bid farewell to his loyal team, like 69-year-old Geordie Julius (who I will return too), and today started a rare road trip, an escape, contemplating his next move, be that more costly legal adventures or waiting out a possible return to the game in 2026, that gave a rise from anonymity to fortune, fame and infamy at the start of the century
“I watched the Makybe Diva (Mr Brightside v Pride Of Jenni), great race wasn’t it,” Weir said of a race he had won twice with Palentino (2016) and Humidor (2017).
“Point King, yeah, he’s a nice horse, still a way to go to the Cup, but he is in good hands, good to work with him and Lloyd had been fantastic,” Weir said.
Now Weir is horseless. Not hopeless but facing another uncertain future.
“I’m just going for a drive, a week or so maybe,” Weir said today, “Just going to cruise along, no plans,” he said in a tone that you’d align for a man with just that - no plans – and just cruising – because that is what he exactly wanted to do and needs to do right now.
It may give him time to consider an appeal against the latest two-year- suspension that was added without acknowledgement of time served (seventeen months) to an original four-year ban ended in February last year.
“The time is too long, but I haven’t decided anything yet,” Weir said.
“I just don’t know, that’s the trouble. I haven’t had a holiday but that’s never been me, I just need to get away.”
“It’s not just the time off, it’s the time to think about getting going again.
“People get sick of sending you horses and then not knowing how long they can stay there with us. I’ve had great support from so many people, but I understand how frustrating it’s been for everyone as this has dragged on.
The Victorian Racing Tribunal enforced the two-year latest disqualification on September 2, given Weir a week re remove and transfer over 100 horses in pre-training work and others on agistment.
Weir’s legal advisers are considering him for Court of Appeal avenues, but Weir seems more philosophical than combative facing his latest ban.
“I can always feed a few cattle, that’s something that might do me. The other stuff (courts) just drains you,” he says, noting that is as much financially as mentally.
"The property (Trevenson Park) there is always a shit load to do there, the house (dating back to the 1970's) is liveable, but I am always working on it but until I know where I'm heading, I suppose it's all a bit of limbo."
The VRT has been highly critical of the delays in the Weir case, indeed the penalty charges involving Jarrod McLean and Tyson Kermond keep the legal clock ticking today into next month, all funded by Weir.
Weir admitted use of the jigger to Racing Victoria stewards in January 2023, before his original ban ended (possession January 2019), he was eventually charged in September 23, corruption charges dropped, but remaining not finalised until July this year, the penalty only confirmed this month.
“There is no suggestion that any part of that delay is anyway attributable to him.”, Judge John Bowman said during the hearing.
“The same could not be said of the stewards. Apart from anything else there is no acceptable explanation as to why there was such a delay between the expiry date of the four-year period of disqualification in February 2023 and laying of the present charges in September of that year.”
“We accept he is genuinely remorseful. He has been frank and co-operative with the stewards, he has pleaded guilty to the present charges and did so at an early stage when they were laid.”
Weir admits, the complexities and language of legal argument are beyond him, he has kept a low public profile and has only spoken publicly once before until now.
“I don’t read social media, I wouldn’t know anything about it, so that has never bothered me,” Weir said.
But a “Fair Go For Weir” Facebook page has been started up by his daughters and attracted much engagement in a short time.
“The kids have done all that, I stay out of it, so I don’t really know what is being said, but to me it is always about the staff and the horses,” Weir said.
For example, Geordie Julius, 69, the Julius name linked to jockey Melissa, former trainer Josh, transporter, Ben.
“The Roll The Dice guys mentioned he was looking for a job when Josh gave up training, I said there was one there for him naturally and he came out,” Weir said.
But Geordie’s recollections are perhaps more real as revealing.
“I’m nearly 70, and finding work isn’t easy. The routine, the horses, the people—they gave me purpose. Now, that’s all gone. It’s not just about the money; the mental strain is real.”
“Everything was organised. The best trainers and biggest owners respected the place because the horses were well cared for and prepared.”
“Without Trevenson Park, there’s a big hole. A lot of people lost their jobs, and it’s hurt all of us.”
Julius recalled the staff would often gather for dinners at the pub, and Weir was a regular presence, always supporting his team. “He wasn’t drinking, but he’d be there, yacking away, joking with us, and he’d sit and have tea with us.”
“Anyone that came up that driveway looking for a job would get one," he said. "Whether it was for three hours one day or every day, if you wanted to work, you’d get a job." This philosophy extended to backpackers, many of whom had no prior experience with horses but quickly learned under Weir’s guidance and now leave having the skills to get a job in any stable around the world.
“It’s going to affect the footy club, the hotel, the cafés—Trevenson Park brought people into town every day. And the feed store, the vet, all the providers—they’ll feel it too.”
“Darren’s always looked after us. He’s fair and loyal, and we know he’s learned from his mistakes. He deserves another chance. People don’t see how much Darren gave back to the sport and his staff. He’s not just a trainer; he’s a caring person.”
Something that Weir can confirm back to Julius, who says now his hope is a caravan and travelling to find stables when their staff need a break.
“I’ve already told him when he gets back from New Zealand there is a caravan waiting for him,” Weir said.
For Julius: It’s not just Darren who’s been punished. It’s all of us. And it’s a shame because he still has so much more to offer.”
Whether Weir can offer that again is not just be of his own desire or intention.
It may seem to be of his passion, his reality is more short term: “time heals all wounds”, perhaps “tough times never last but tough people do,”- maybe.
Or: “time is the wisest counsellor or all.”
Weir has had much; some say had too much time, for such counsel. A short road trip allows more immediate consideration, if needed.
But think of Geordie, turning 70, and never thinking his time is up. Weir can keep that caravan for Geordie, but for himself, time will tell, Weir has had plenty of that.
