THE sudden collapse of Darren Weir’s training operation has the potential to financially cripple some western district racing clubs.
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Weir was known to jump-out or gallop more than 50 horses at courses such as Terang, Camperdown, Casterton, Coleraine and Mortlake during the year.
Each club would charge for every horse, amounting to a tens of thousands of dollars of income that has now disappeared.
Terang Racing Club president Wayne Johnstone told The Standard more than $30,000 would be lost off its bottom line.
Weiry was a great supporter of the smaller clubs across the western district and now he’s gone.
- Terang Racing Club president Wayne Johnstone
“It’s a big blow to us,” Johnstone said. “Weiry was a great supporter of the smaller clubs across the western district and now he’s gone.
“He was really supportive of Terang. He used to love trialling his horses at the smaller country courses.
“I would say it’s going to cost us over $30,000.
“We’ve relied on the money. We would hold eight to 10 jump-outs and gallops from October to May each year.
“A few of the smaller clubs will really struggle. Weiry would take horses up to Coleraine or Casterton for jump-outs or gallops over the winter months.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed other trainers from across the south-west will use the training facilities at Terang.”
Warrnambool Racing Club announced earlier this week it has the potential to be out of pocket more then $150,000 following Weir’s disqualification.
The amount is made up of track gallops, access levies and leases on Weir’s on-course stables at Warrnambool.
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