Racing Victoria Appeals and Disciplinary Board last month found Preusker guilty of using a banned electrical device on a horse and banned him for four years.

After the January 16 hearing, Preusker indicated that he would not appeal the decision.

But Dale Mulcahy from the Victorian Racing Appeals Tribunal confirmed this week that Preusker had lodged an appeal on Monday, with an appeal date yet to be set.

He said Preusker had objected to the ban and the severity of the penalty.

"An appeal date has not been set, we are waiting for the transcipts of the hearing when his ban was handed down," Mr Mulcahy said.

Preusker declined to comment on the appeal when contacted by the Mail-Times yesterday.

Racing Victoria stewards found a cattle prod and smaller electrical device at Horsham racetrack in November.

Horsham jockey Holly McKechnie, who was banned from racing for three years for her involvement, has not lodged an appeal.

Preusker can take heart from a Queensland trainer's successful appeal against a similar charge in August 2005.

Garnet Taylor had his five- year ban for being in possession of an electrical device reduced to 12 months after a successful hearing at Queensland's Racing Appeals Tribunal.

Tribunal chairman Leo Williams found Mr Taylor's ban was clearly excessive.

"He is a trainer of horses in a small western Queensland town. His business contributes to the commerce of the community in which he lives and contributes to the support of local establishments upon which members of the local community rely for jobs," he said. "To visit upon him a disqualification of five years is unreasonable in the extreme."