The public is being deliberately misled into believing that the forthcoming international jockey challenge is being contested by jockeys officially selected for national colours and thus representing South Africa. It appears that the ploy is a combined effort by the Racing Association and the National Horseracing Authority, suggests reader Advocate Brett Maselle.
Last Friday evening’s Pinkdrive meeting at Greyville has also come under the spotlight.
“The NHA CEO Mr Colin Hall knows that the events are advertised as international jockey challenges and not invitational jockey challenges. Clouding the issues is something the NHA have become masters at. I had a frank discussion with Nic Roodt (the attorney of the NHA) at the Baron in Sandton after I had pleaded guilty to withdrawing my horse from one of the international races. Roodt agreed with me that the races had to be called Invitational Races as the public was being misled into believing the races were in fact proper internationals. That is why the rule was changed….. to make sure that the public was not misled. All advertising by Racing it’s a Rush and the RA makes it clear that the races are international races and not invitational races. It is advertised as a match between South Africa and the other jockeys. The advertisements make it as clear as day and in my opinion you have to be blind not to see this,” says Maselle.
Maselle goes on to say that Colin Hall has no discretion, but communications appear to indicatethat he has made his mind up.
“A real pity! In all likelihood, the NHA will sit back and watch the jockeys being paraded as representing their countries when they are not. There is no discretion no matter how Mr Hall wants to play his cards,” adds Maselle.
Advocate Maselle wrote to Colin Hall last week.
Dear Mr Hall
- As you are aware, I believe that Rules are written to be complied with.
- In particular compliance with the NHA rules regarding a jockeys challenge is something close to my heart.
- Although you may not appreciate this communication, I feel that it is necessary to politely remind you, in advance, of your obligations and limitations as CE when it comes to a jockeys challenge.
- My main grievance has been that the SA jockeys are not chosen by authorised entities (SASCOC) and that they do not officially represent SA when they ride. They do not have Protea colours. Despite this, for one reason or another, these jockeys from South Africa are allowed to mislead the public and portray themselves as official representatives of SA.
When it comes to the overseas jockeys, they are not chosen by their countries to represent them. They ride in South Africa pursuant to contracts or arrangements concluded with the Racing Association and/or other entities.
5.The relevant rule regarding colours states the following:- “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Rule 8.3, in the event of any Invitational International or Provincial Jockeys Challenge being scheduled by any RACING OPERATOR, then it shall be permitted, in the sole discretion of the CHIEF EXECUTIVE and on such conditions as he determines, that the HORSES participating in the races relevant to that Invitational International Jockeys Challenge, run in colours depicting the country of birth or permanent residence of the rider of that HORSE, or, in the event of races relevant to that Invitational Provincial Jockeys Challenge, run in colours depicting the province of permanent residence of the rider of that HORSE.”
6.When it comes to determining the colours to be used in a race, your discretion only applies to an Invitational International or a Provincial Jockeys Challenge. Nothing more.
7. From all the advertisements I have seen, this year’s challenge is regarded as an International Jockeys challenge [and not an Invitational International]. On this basis, you cannot make any determination regarding the jockeys colours and owners colours must at all times be worn by the jockeys.
8. Below you will find one of the several communications from the Racing Association which has made it absolutely clear that the 2015 jockeys challenge is seen and is being run as an international jockeys challenge. “Test” matches are also contemplated.
9. Kindly confirm that you will not act in terms of the above rule and that jockeys will be forced to wear owners colours.
Published: 07 September 2015:
There was some very exciting news for East Cape racing on Saturday night when the Racing Association awards evening was held. Not only were the awards celebrated at a gala dinner, but the CEO of the RA, Larry Wainstein, announced that Port Elizabeth will host the first jockey test this season.
“The test will be held on Friday 13th November. There will be races on the turf track and on the poly track,” Wainstein said. In the test, known as the International Jockey Challenge, the South African team will come up against an international side as part of the Fairview meeting.The next day the challenge will continue at Turffontein.
Then he writes a further email to Colin Hall:
During the evening of Friday 22 October 2015 I was watching racing at Greyville on Tellytrack. To my consternation, I watched a race with all jockeys wearing pink silks and distinguishing caps. The rules of the NHA are clear and such a race should not have occurred without the jockeys wearing the owners colours.
I subsequently checked sahorseracing.co.za to find that the programme for this Greyville race states:
“1600m / Poly FM 84 HAND I CAP (F & M) Please note, it is a condition of entry that all runners participating in this race will be wearing Pink Silks with owners’ colour caps in support of the Pink Drive.”
You know that the operators conditions do not trump the rules of the NHA.
In my view the NHA must have known about the race and the conditions and it turned a blind eye to the rules. Moreover Gold Circle would have known that the conditions and the running of the race was a clear contravention of the rules.
The NHA is required to uphold the integrity of horseracing. To flout its own rules sends the wrong message to everybody. What makes matters worse is that by coincidence I sent my email to you – about following the rules regarding colours – on the very same day the above race was run.
I have no doubt that in order to obfuscate from a breach of the rules, the excuse used will be that it was for a good cause.
No one will deny that a good cause was the beneficiary – however, no matter how noble the cause may be, the rules are required to be followed.
Do not think about the cause without first thinking about all those involved in horseracing. The owners were not given a choice. Punters were hard done by as the form guides did not indicate that pink colours were being worn. Identifying the horse one backed was difficult.
There were other alternatives such as the saddlecloths being pink, reins could have been pink, jockeys trousers and/or boots could have been pink. The alternatives were not used rather the rules were given short shrift.
I look forward to your explanation and seeing if any steps will be taken.
Thank You
Brett Maselle
CC Sporting post.
Relevant rules excerpt:
8.3 DESCRIPTION AND DESIGN 8.3.1 A HORSE shall
run in the REGISTERED colours of its OWNER and the OWNER and/or TRAINER of a HORSE shall ensure that such colours are available. Where the colours are not available for any reason, a STIPENDIARY STEWARD may allow a HORSE to run in REGISTERED club colours.
8.3.2 Colours shall be designed and described so as to be easily distinguishable.
8.3.3 If any colours in a RACE are practically indistinguishable, the clerk of the scales or a STIPENDIARY STEWARD shall order one or more sets to be changed, without penalty, for the RACE concerned.
8.3.4 In RACE CARDS, colours shall be described as published in the RACING CALENDAR. 8.3.5 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Rule 8.3, in the event of any Invitational International or Provincial Jockeys Challenge being scheduled by any RACING OPERATOR, then it shall be permitted, in the sole discretion of the CHIEF EXECUTIVE and on such conditions as he determines, that the HORSES participating in the races relevant to that Invitational International Jockeys Challenge, run in colours depicting the country of birth or permanent residence of the rider of that HORSE, or, in the event of races relevant to that Invitational Provincial Jockeys Challenge, run in colours depicting the province of permanent residence of the rider of that HORSE.
Colin Hall’s response to Maselle:
Thank you for your letter dated 22nd October.
Whilst I understand your grievance, the rule does not suggest that I should take into whether or not the jockeys officially represent their countries. The rule was recently amended to cater exactly for the races as they are contemplated. My interpretation of the rule is that it makes provision for different colours to be worn in Invitational International Jockeys Challenge events or in Invitational Provincial Jockeys Challenge events, subject to the discretion of the CE.
Yours sincerely
Colin Hall
Chief Executive
The National Horseracing Authority
Maselle concludes:
“I am all for transparency. I am against shrouds over Board Room decisions when those in control are required to act in the best interest of the sport of horseracing. Mr Hall has failed to deal with my pink day complaint. It is a clear breach and I can understand why he has chosen to avoid answering. Notwithstanding, I wait for a reply,” he said.
