The puzzling and damaging Petergate saga continues after Saturday’s Betway Summer Cup day, with the NHA having lifted the interim suspension imposed late on Sunday evening on trainer Tony Peter, but then bouncing back on Monday evening with news of a related Inquiry.
The racing regulator advised that an Inquiry has been opened into the circumstances behind the fact that despite trainer Tony Peter being advised on Saturday to present selected runners for the taking of pre-race specimens, his race 8 runner Flying Bull was not presented for the collection of specimens – they say, despite him being reminded of this requirement.
Paul Peter (right) with son Josh (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Sporting Post has been informed that no calls were made – a whatsapp message was apparently despatched by the Stipes at 14h40, when Tony Peter was in a meeting with his legal counsel.
His Dad Paul Peter told the Sporting Post on Monday evening that Tony had in fact approached NHA Racing Control Executive Arnold Hyde on Saturday morning, with a request to test all of his runners, after the unprecedented scratching of the balance of his horses from the third race.
“Flying Bull was not on course as he was only carded in race 8. Thus he was not there when the likes of Street Art, Main Defender and Captain Hindsight were tested,” explained Paul Peter.
He said that Tony Peter had left Turffontein at 12h30.
“He was naturally upset and left the racecourse to meet his legal counsel for an urgent meeting. His phone was on silent as he was being inundated with calls and was in a meeting. The whatsapp – yes only a whatsapp – was received from the Stipes at 14h40. No effort was made by any official to call Tony and request that he present Flying Bull. By the time he went through his calls and messages , it was late and there were no Grooms available either.”
So where to from here?
