Melbourne Cup-winning horse trainer Darren Weir and two other men have been charged with animal cruelty offences following raids on Weir’s stables in Ballarat and Warrnambool in January.
Mr Weird was charged with nine offences including three counts of ‘engaging in the torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying’ of a racehorse and three counts of ‘causing unreasonable pain or suffering to a racehorse’.
In February Racing Victoria suspended Weir for four years after police allegedly found electrical devices used to shock horses, known as "jiggers", in the raids.
"Upon the issuing of the charges today our [Racing Victoria] stewards have immediately opened inquiries and ordered three persons to attend … to answer questions in relation to the charges," a spokesperson for Racing Victoria said.
Racing Victoria says inquiries have been opened and the charged men will appear at the Melbourne’s Magistrate court later this month.