The four-time J.A Esam Medal winner, who is now a successful businessman in Melbourne, is heading into hospital for an operation on his right knee in a fortnight after years of pain and suffering.

GUTTED: Veteran bookie David McLauchlan said the satchel swingers copped a battering on the last day of the carnival.

“It was the worst Thursday in 42 years of working at the carnival,” he said.

“The punters got on the Weir bandwagon and most of the other winners were well backed.

“It was a complete disaster for us. There was good money around it just shows punters love having a bet at the carnival.”

MISSING: Former champion jumps jockey David “Butch” Londregan, who won the Grand Annual Steeplechase, was left disappointed after he was forced to scratch his jumper King Of The Forest from the feature race on Thursday.

Londregan decided to stay at home in Colac to watch the coverage.

SPOTTED: Former Racing Victoria CEO Bernard Saundry looked nice and fit at the track.

The passionate Western Bulldogs fan has shed 10 kilograms in the past few months as he continues on a fitness campaign.

INFLUENCE: Darren Weir's winning carnival was also great for jockeys he used over the three days.

John Allen was the leading hoop, booting home seven winners, while Brad Rawiller rode four winners.

Horsham jockey Dean Yendall and Melbourne-based Damian Lane both had three winners.