Will Gordon, a jockey assisting his partner Taige Weir with her emerging pre-training business, was charged by Racing Victoria for purchasing a horse at auction in his name, which breached rules prohibiting jockeys from owning horses. Gordon successfully bid $20,050 for a Doubtland filly at the William Inglis Yearling Sales, using his bank account to pay, but claimed he was acting as an agent for Weir, who intended to use the horse to launch her training career. Despite Racing Victoria’s push for a two-year disqualification, the tribunal accepted Gordon’s explanation that he was merely helping Weir due to her lack of funds and dismissed the ownership charge, instead fining him $2,500 for involvement in the purchase.

Taige Weir, who has ambitions to become a licensed trainer, acknowledged Gordon bid on her behalf because she was nervous and unaware of the rules. Meanwhile, her father, former Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir, faces challenges in regaining his trainer’s license after a prior suspension. The case highlights the strict integrity standards in horse racing, with Racing Victoria emphasizing that jockeys bidding at auctions undermines industry integrity, though in this instance, the tribunal found no deliberate wrongdoing by Gordon.