By Daithi Harvey
Leading Queensland trainer Ben Currie's training business faces an uncertain future after the trainer was charged with 31 breaches of racing's rules. Currie is unable to make any entries for his string while he faces the charges which include administering raceday treatments without permission to five horses he ran at Doomben and Gatton in March while he also faces similar charges surrounding the same offence with different horses on other raceday occasions. After the hearing on Monday which took place in Brisbane at the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission offices, Currie confirmed his plea of not guilty and that he would contest the charges, “My lawyers will apply for an urgent stay of the suspension before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Tuesday,” he informed Racing And Sports.
Four people have already been disqualified or suspended as a result of an inquiry opened by QRIC stewards after allegations were made by integrity officers about activities at Currie's stables in April. Among them are Currie's father and foreman Mark Currie who has been disqualified for two years on 16 charges while the trainer's employees Greg Britnall, Cameron Schwenke and Silde Canda have all been suspended for periods ranging from three to eighteen months as result of the inquiry.
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