Some of the controversial figures in Australian racing, Currie, who was rubbed out from coaching in 2019 for issues associated to a “increase paste” being administered, was working as a stablehand for his coach father Mark as a part of his reintegration into racing when the unbeaten three-year-old received the Listed Gold Version Plate at Eagle Farm.
Currie, alongside together with his father had been charged underneath AR 240 (2) in that if a horse assessments optimistic to a banned substance earlier than or after a race, the coach and another one who was accountable for the horse at any related time have breached the Australian Guidelines of Racing.
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In a Toowoomba stewards’ listening to, Ben and Mark Currie argued the horse might have been contaminated by various individuals on the day, with each saying that they had by no means used cocaine of their life.
Each Ben and Mark Currie pleaded not responsible to the costs, with Ben arguing it will price him his likelihood at regaining his coach’s license, which he might apply for in Could this yr after lately upgrading to a secure foreman license.
“Simply because my title is Ben Currie, I shouldn‘t get handled in a different way,” he stated after being informed of the costs.
“This has by no means occurred earlier than the place a stablehand and a coach get charged for a similar crime, it’s double Dutch for a begin.”
Stewards confirmed though Finish Meeting‘s pre-race blood pattern returned damaging to any banned substances, his post-race urine pattern twice examined optimistic to cocaine.
Currie argued Finish Meeting might have been uncovered to cocaine at any level in the course of the 90-minute window between the 2 assessments.
“There have been a number of house owners there (after the race), there have been most likely a number of individuals in touch with him … It’s fairly frequent follow to offer the horse a pet and get a photograph,” he informed the inquiry.
“I don’t see how I’m liable. I’m simply there doing a job I’m paid to do, the horse offered properly when it left the care I had it underneath pre-race, I by no means touched the horse once more.
“I haven’t seen this occur earlier than so I don’t perceive why I get handled in a different way, I’d wish to suppose frequent sense would prevail with you guys as a result of final time I touched the horse, it was clear.
“Why do I get handled in a different way once I’m making an attempt to come back again and do the correct factor?
“I’ve been by means of all these things earlier than, the very last thing I wish to do is be right here and do one thing that’s going to jeopardise one thing that’s going to cease me coaching once more.
“I cop this cost right here and it impacts me for the subsequent 10 years, I can‘t get a trainers license as a result of I now have one other cost … My complete profession, my complete livelihood and my means to go ahead on this trade will get affected from this horse having that, once I couldn’t even management it.
“If I get charged with something, I received‘t get a license once more … At 31, I can’t practice horses ever once more just about – do my actions right here deserve that when this has by no means occurred earlier than?
“It will probably’t probably go additional, it received’t maintain up and it creates stress for me, my means to earn will get affected and to not point out the media sits there and I’m the story abruptly.”
Whereas each events have been discovered responsible of the cost, stewards have adjourned the inquiry till subsequent week to find out related penalties.
Learn all the newest racing information by Trenton Akers.
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Initially printed as Ben Currie fumes after being discovered responsible of function in horse cocaine saga
