Eight days ago, Darren Weir was the king of the racing world. On Wednesday morning, he sat in silence with his reputation and his career in ruins.
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''You are a 48-year-old man who has created a rags to riches story in the racing world,'' said Judge John Bowman in handing down a four-year disqualification from racing.
''Now you will be remembered for possessing instruments of cruelty, instruments associated with high-level cheating.''
Weir was found guilty of possessing electrical apparatus (known as jiggers) and of committing conduct prejudicial to the interests of racing. The penalty comes into effect immediately.
In Wednesday's hearing, Bowman traced a career arc where Weir began as a humble horse breaker and strapper from the Mallee, who came to be ''a leviathan trainer'' with owners in their thousands, a staff of 150 and an operation that chased winners all over the country.
He was a champion trainer, a multiple group 1 winner, with a stable full of top gallopers all primed at the big upcoming races in the Melbourne and Sydney autumn carnivals.
Now the 48-year-old, revered as a horse whisperer and one of the best in the sport's history, is in disgrace.
Weir, who sat straight-backed and said nothing as the evidence against him was delivered, can have nothing to do with the racing industry until February 2023. Even if he does return to the sport once he has served his disqualification, he will be left with a shadow of his former operation.
As Judge Bowman began his summing-up before delivering his verdict, Weir's body seemed to slump and his head drooped as if he had become suddenly even more aware of the enormity of what was unfolding and the consequences he faced.
Stewards related how police found the electrical devices in the master bedroom of his home at his Forest Lodge stables in Ballarat, suggesting he had tried to conceal them from investigators.
The judge also made it clear that whatever the outcome of this hearing, it may not be the end of the matter.
There is a police inquiry still going on, and, he said, if further evidence comes to hand, more charges could be laid.
The real victims are staff and all who had horses run second to this regime.
- Judge John Bowman
It was when the judge began explaining how jiggers work - how the horse comes to associate the pain of the electrical charge with which he is being inflicted with a related action - that Weir's head and shoulders dropped.
Weir was charged only with possession, not application, of the jiggers.
''Even possessing devices capable of inflicting such cruelty ... warrants stern punishment.
''Great damage is done [to racing] when its most prominent trainer is found with implements associated with animal cruelty and cheating.''
Bowman pointed out that ''apart from the dishonesty and cheating'' that can be involved with their use, the aspect of animal welfare was also significant - much more so than it might have been several years ago when the last big case involving the use of jiggers took place.
The ramifications for the racing industry are still to play out, but Nick Williams, an owner and the son of multiple Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd, was quick to tweet about the "unfortunate situation".
"Well done to [Racing Victoria's] integrity department for handling the Weir situation so swiftly," he said. "They have made the best of an unfortunate situation. Some credit to Weir for accepting his penalty.
"The real victims are staff and all who had horses run second to this regime."
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