In any sport, effectively allowing a contestant to continually have an unfair advantage over his opponents surely begs the question why more stringent measures are not taken to curb the ‘enthusiasm’?
The National Horseracing Authority really need to protect those that play by the book.
Steve Reid writes in the Sporting Post Mailbag that on Tuesday evening 8 February 2022, the third race was won by Portrayal, trained by Candice Dawson and ridden by former SA champion Smanga Khumalo.
The horse won an exciting contest by an official 0.1 lengths from the Johan Jansen van Vuuren trained Chyavana, ridden by Keagan de Melo. Both horses were well fancied, both had shortened in the betting, and both were around the 3/1 mark at race time.
What the official race result does not tell you is the manner in which the winner was ridden.
There are euphemisms for Khumalo’s forceful riding style – the Sporting Post described another winning ride on the night as ‘animated’.
In this particular race, watching the head-on footage starting just after the 400m mark, I count 13 whip strikes by Khumalo.
I have no doubt that this vigorous ride was the difference between victory and defeat, and all that backed the horse should justifiably credit Khumalo for the win.
The question however has to be asked – was the ride fair?
Taken from the delayed stipes report released as I was writing this, and confirming my whip strike count:
Jockey S Khumalo was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop), in that he misused his crop by striking PORTRAYAL more than twelve times in the entire race. Jockey Khumalo signed an Admission of Guilt and a fine of R3500 was imposed. When assessing the penalty, the Board took into consideration the number of times Jockey Khumalo used his crop (13) as well as his recent record with regard to this Rule and Guideline (5). Jockey Khumalo was advised that should he transgress this Rule before the 18th of February 2022, he would face a suspension.
The NHA rules have the following to say in regard to this infringement:
58.10.2 No RIDER shall misuse a crop or use a crop in an unnecessary or excessive manner or use a crop on any part of a HORSE’S head
- m) Hitting a HORSE more than 12 times in the entire race.
[Amended 10.05.2019]
If these rules are followed as a guideline, I believe that there is no doubt that Khumalo is in breach of the rules, and will no doubt receive the customary fine for his infringement on Tuesday evening.
I say customary because I was shocked to see that in this current racing season – we are in the 27th week – Khumalo has been found guilty of 58.10.2, normally in association with guideline (m), no less than 23 times. That is not a misprint.
The 23 infringements have resulted in fines ranging between R1500 and R3500 per offence and totaling R44750.
Blings wins the Gauteng Guineas on Safe Passage (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
There was also a one-week suspension for his ride on Native Tongue in the 7th race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 17 October 2021.
Let’s look at the numbers.
For winning a Maiden Plate, and for purposes of this example, let’s use the R100 000 stake raced for on Tuesday night.
The winning prize amounted to R62 500. Khumalo would receive a minimum of 10% of that viz. R6 250.
The 2nd place stake amounted to R20 000 and his share of that would have amounted to R2 000.
The maximum fine that he has received for this infringement is R3 500. So it makes sense from a financial viewpoint to win the race regardless of penalty because you would still earn more than if you ran 2nd. The sums are R6250 – R3500 = R2750.
This just gets worse as the stakes raced for increase in monetary value.
It is no wonder that Khumalo does not fear the fines – it’s clear that they are not enough of a deterrent to stop the abuse.
There’s more at stake however.
Jockeys title chases are not affected by his ‘advantage’ as results stand regardless of him being found/pleading guilty or signing the infamous admission of guilt ticket.
There is the potential not only to affect the jockeys title – trainers, owners, breeders, champion sire titles et al. are all affected by the lack of censure of this type of ride.
There’s also the obvious question as to the horse’s welfare, and why this rule is in place in the first place.
You have got to admire the restraint of the National Horseracing Authority.
I find it hard to believe that any regulator of any sport, anywhere in the world, would allow a licensed participant to flout the rules in the manner and regularity that Smanga Khumalo does.
To permit a participant to continually have an unfair advantage over his opponents begs the question why more stringent measures are not taken to curb the ‘enthusiasm’? Do your job regulator – give the guilty long holidays and protect those that play by the book.
While you are at it, get the slumbering rules committee to implement proper fines for these type of infringements.
Stop being lukewarm on horse welfare. As a suggestion, guilty jockeys should lose their entire riding fee and stakes earnings.
These fines should then be donated to Horse Care units in the area where the infringements occurred.
Don’t mention it – it’s a pleasure.
