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On 20 August 2018, Racing NSW Stewards issued licensed Queensland trainer Mark Currie, with notice that he was required to show cause as to why the provisions of AR50, to reject or decline to receive nominations of horses trained by him, should not be invoked, in response to charges issued against Mr Currie under AR178E(1) and AR175(a), by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) for which he was disqualified for a period of two years.

Mr Currie is currently operating in Queensland on a stay of proceedings issued by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Mr Currie was provided until 1pm today to make submissions in response to the notice.

Having received submissions from Mr P. Boyce of Butler McDermott Lawyers on behalf of Mr Currie, Racing NSW Stewards have carefully considered the show cause notice.

Racing NSW Stewards are of the view that any hardship suffered by Mr Currie by the invoking the provisions of AR50, is outweighed by the prejudice to, and undermining of, the image, interests and integrity of racing in NSW if he was permitted to nominate (and race) horses in NSW while the serious charges issued against him are yet to be finalised.

In those circumstances, the “balance of convenience” is against Mr Currie and, accordingly, Racing NSW Stewards rule that, acting under the provisions of AR50, nominations of horses trained by Mr Mark Currie will be declined to be received and/or rejected until the charges issued by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission as detailed above have been finalised.

Relevant Rule
AR 50. All nominations and entries are subject to approval, and the Committee of any Club, or the Stewards, may decline to receive, or at any time after having received, reject any nomination or entry without giving any reason for so doing. If any nomination or entry be rejected under this Rule, the fees paid in respect thereof shall be refunded.