The stables of Australia’s leading trainer Darren Weir were raided by police and stewards on Wednesday morning.

Detectives from the Victoria Police Sports Integrity Unit raided both the Warrnambool and Ballarat bases of Weir’s large training operation.

Racing.com understands a video from inside the stable and other allegations surrounding Weir have been under investigation for months.

“There is a lot of both uniform and plain clothes police around the area at the moment,” Ballarat Courier journalist Greg Gliddon told Melbourne radio station 3AW shortly before 8am.

“At this stage we don’t have a lot of detail about what’s going on but no doubt things will develop through the day.

“The majority appear to be federal police, but there are uniform officers here as well, so yeah there’s something definitely going on here at the stables.”

Racing Victoria confirm arrests - 8:30am

Racing Victoria (RV) Executive General Manager – Integrity, Jamie Stier, issued the following statement at 8:30am regarding the execution of warrants this morning by Victoria Police in Warrnambool and Ballarat:

“Racing Victoria’s Integrity Services team has been conducting an investigation into the activities of licensed persons in the Warrnambool and Ballarat areas. During the course of our investigation we sought the support of Victoria Police’s Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit on the matter, instigating their investigation.

“The Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit this morning executed warrants at properties in Warrnambool and Ballarat where they arrested three licensed persons for questioning. Members of the Racing Victoria Integrity Services team attended licensed stables to assist Victoria Police and to investigate potential offences against the Rules of Racing.

“As the matters are the subject of on-going investigations by Victoria Police and Racing Victoria we are not at liberty at this time to disclose the identities of the persons arrested nor the details of the investigations.

“Racing Victoria is committed to maintaining the highest integrity standards in our sport and, where appropriate, we will continue to work with Victoria Police on those investigations.”

Image @sianmjohnson

Police issue statement, seize firearm - 9am

Detectives from the Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit have executed warrants at properties in the Warrnambool and Ballarat areas this morning as part of an ongoing investigation.

Police executed warrants from just before 6am today (Wednesday).

The properties were located in Miners Rest and Warrnambool.

Detectives from the Ballarat Divisional Response Unit were also involved in this morning’s operation.

Three people have been arrested including a 48-year-old Miners Rest man, a 38-year-old Yangery man and a 26-year-old Warrnambool man.

They will now be interviewed in relation to sporting integrity matters including obtain financial advantage by deception, engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome of event or event contingency, use of corrupt conduct information for betting purposes, and attempt to commit indictable offence namely obtain financial advantage by deception.

A number of items including a firearm and what is believed to be a conducted energy device were also seized from the properties.

The investigation remains ongoing and has also been assisted by Racing Victoria.

Weir stable still active - 10:15am

Racing Victoria have confirmed at this stage that none of Darren Weir's runners will be scratched from Wednesday's meeting at Mornington.

Racing.com