Jason Gates – heavy penalty on a forgettable Saturday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Jason Gates felt the full brunt of the National Horseracing Authority’s crop excess penalties at Turffontein on Saturday when incurring R24 000 in fines and a two week suspension for a total of four cracks over the limit.
Gates’ woes commenced in the fifth race when he was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) in that as the rider of Afraad he misused his crop by striking the gelding more than twelve times (14), which was not deemed to be warranted when considering the circumstances of the race.
Gates signed an Admission of Guilt and a fine of R8000 was imposed.
An hour later, Gates rode a cracker on Tony Peter-trained Electric Gold, who finished second behind Atticus Finch in the Betway Victory Moon Stakes.
But his efforts were again a breach of the rules and he was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) in that he was said to have misused his crop by striking the gelding more than twelve times (14) which was not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race.
Gates again signed an Admission of Guilt and this time he received a fine of R16000 and a fourteen (14) day suspension was imposed. Suspension dates: 11 November 2023 to 24 November 2023.
When assessing this penalty, the Board reportedly took into consideration the status of the race, the number of times the crop was used (14), the number of contraventions of Rule 58.10.2 (M) at this racemeeting (2) and the finishing position of Electric Gold.
Here is the table which covers the fines applicable. The slate is wiped clean at the end of the term.
