Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Weir, 48, from Miners Rest, has been training horses since 1995, and took out the 2015 Melbourne Cup with Prince of Penzance. He was arrested on Wednesday along with a 38-year-old Yangery man and a 26-year-old Warrnambool man. A number of items - including a firearm and a conducted energy device - were seized in the raids. Detectives from Victoria Police's Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit will now interview the three men. Racing Victoria's executive general manager of the integrity unit, Jamie Stier, confirmed three people had been arrested as they investigated potential offences against the rules of racing.

Police raid the stables of horse trainer Darren Weir on Wednesday. “Racing Victoria’s Integrity Services team has been conducting an investigation into the activities of licensed persons in the Warrnambool and Ballarat areas," he said. "During the course of our investigation we sought the support of Victoria Police’s Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit on the matter, instigating their investigation. Police are seen at Darren Weir Stables in Miners Rest, Victoria, on Wednesday. Credit:AAP “The Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit this morning executed warrants at properties in Warrnambool and Ballarat where they arrested three licensed persons for questioning."

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the trio would be interviewed in relation to sporting integrity matters, including obtaining financial advantage by deception, engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of an event or event contingency, use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes, and attempting to commit an indictable offence namely obtain financial advantage by deception. Minister for Racing Martin Pakula said he was committed to maintaining the integrity of the sport and any allegations of breaches were extremely disappointing. "This investigation demonstrates that integrity officials of Racing Victoria will enforce the rules of racing without fear or favour," Mr Pakula said. He said it would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation. The raids are part of a continuing investigation. No charges have been laid. There is no suggestion the allegations are true, only that they are being investigated.

The Weir stables at Miners Rest, which were raided by police on Wednesday morning. Credit:Nine Due to the ongoing investigation, he would not comment on the identities of those arrested or the details of the investigation. At about 6am, Racing Victoria compliance team officials and Victoria Police sports integrity unit officers took part in the searches. It is understood some vehicles and cars were also examined at Warrnambool and Ballarat. There have been persistent rumours during the past two months of a significant investigation.

The RSPCA said it was unaware of any investigation when contacted by The Warrnambool Standard in the past two weeks. RSN Racing & Sport radio reports federal police visited Weir’s Ballarat stables some weeks ago where they may have seized an item central to an on-going inquiry. Police rad the stables of horse trainer Darren Weir on Wednesday. Weir has five runners due to race at Mornington on Wednesday. He was in New Zealand at the Karaka Sales on Sunday.