Just when he thought the system had failed him, jockey Jason Gates received a notification from the National Horseracing Authority this week that his guilty verdict and R10 000 penalty imposed by a local inquiry board at Gqeberha on 28 February 2025 for a negligent or fraudulent act related to weighing, had been wholly set aside on review.
The decision by the review board to throw the matter out indicates that the NHA realizes that there was a breakdown in the laid -down procedures, and that their own officials were not blameless – in fact they were probably negligent to some degree.
Jason Gates – vindicated and his good reputation restored (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
In what sounds like a bizarre sitcom that involved his colleague Eldin Webber and trainer Emmanuel Kaknis and his staff, Gates was charged with a contravention of Rules 72.1.28 and 21.11, in that as the rider of American Pitbull he was alleged to have committed a negligent or fraudulent act with regard to weighing, by failing to ensure that the gelding carried the correct weight and saddle, which led to the delay of the race and resulted in the scratching of American Pitbull from Race 3 at Fairview Racecourse on 31 January 2025.
In the opening act of a comedy of errors, trainer Kaknis had four runners in the race. Gates was riding the 6 horse (American Pitbull) and Webber the 9 horse (Luck Struck).
A file pic of trainer Emmanuel Kaknis, Jason Gates and Christina Kaknis (Pic – Pauline Herman)
The two jockeys weighed out and their saddles were collected by the Grooms of the relevant horses who then proceeded to place the saddle and saddle-cloth on the respective horses.
The Sporting Post has had sight of the weighing room cctv footage, where it can be seen that the error of the reversed number occurs.
It’s significant to note that if one turns either a 6 or 9 upside down, the optical illusion means that they become the other number…. So just imagine which saddle went on which horse.
This is where things become a bit Monty Pythonesque, or Boswell Wilkie, whatever your preferred genre.
Gates tells us that he knew his mount. But then he saw Webber on the slight bay, the horse he knew was his (Gates). He mentioned that to Webber, he says. But the next minute, Webber was off and gone, cantering to the start.
Gates is then instructed to mount his horse – ‘a fat chestnut that I knew was not mine!’
This is where Gates makes the decision that will ultimately lead to the review board throwing out the finding and penalty and finding him blameless – in fact he should be given a commendation for digging his heels in and refusing to get aboard the fat chestnut. Imagine the embarrassment had the race gone ahead! He then reported the matter to the Stipes and both horses were scratched.
Gates feels that the control systems failed and that a bona fide error was compounded by the officials non adherance to process.
Fairview – scene of the incident. Hopefully attention will be given to tightening controls (Pic – Pauline Herman)
He points out that ito Rule 59.1, the Clerk Of Scales, before weighing out any rider shall ensure that the jockey is in possession of a clean saddle cloth provided by the Racing Operator bearing the number allotted in the Race Card to the horse he is riding. He also questions why the horse identifier did not scan the horses – this would have shown that the lean bay and the fat chestnut were wearing each others saddles!
Webber’s fine of R15 000, of which R5000, was suspended for a period of 24 months, was wholly suspended by the Inquiry Review Board, while trainer Kaknis’ fine of R10 000 of which R5000 was suspended for a period of 24 months, was actually confirmed.
Gates told the Sporting Post today that the entire incident, when dissected, was clearly as a result of a sequence of errors, and that any conspiracy motive is outrageous as the two ‘switch’ horses were poles apart in physical appearance, as a start.
“There was no prospect of success of whatever motive may be argued. It was a blunder that arose out of errors and negligence. I appreciate the Sporting Post publishing this explanation as the publication of the original NHA media release tarnished my reputation in a situation where I in fact acted responsibly,” concluded Gates.
Another positive item to come out of this incident is that every inquiry is reviewed by an inquiry review board, and in this case sanity and justice prevailed to show that the original inquiry board had erred. It is effectively a safety net or a ‘free appeal’ for those found guilty.
The Lerena-Gates crop inquiry continues on Monday 24 March in Johannesburg. Gates would not be drawn on commenting on the progress of that protracted matter.
