Toowoomba’s Ben Currie suspended from racing after successful horse discovered with cocaine in system

Toowoomba horse racing id Ben Currie has obtained an 18-month disqualification from racing after a horse he oversaw was discovered with cocaine in its system.

In March, Queensland Racing Integrity Fee (QRIC) stewards discovered Ben Currie and his father Mark Currie responsible of being answerable for a racehorse with a prohibited substance in its system.

Racehorse Finish Meeting returned the constructive post-race pattern after a December 2022 race on the Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane.

Mr Currie’s father, coach Mark Currie, was not bodily current on the race and had left his son answerable for the horse.

Mark Currie has been fined $15,000 for his involvement.

Finish Meeting’s win, the place it gained $116,000 in prize cash, has been disqualified.

The daddy and son duo had each pleaded not responsible on the QRIC inquiry and strenuously denied giving the horse cocaine.

“The final time I touched the horse it was clear,” Ben Currie instructed the inquiry.

“Why would anybody of their proper thoughts try this?”

The inquiry in March heard that previously 10 years there had solely been two events the place thoroughbred samples had examined constructive for cocaine and that each circumstances have been of horses Ben Currie skilled.

Throughout a sentencing listening to in Brisbane in April, a statutory declaration was supplied to stewards from a racegoer who stated he had consumed cocaine on the race after which patted Finish Meeting.

However this proof was rejected by stewards.

After the preliminary listening to in March, the Curries instructed the ABC they’d be interesting the result.