The National Horseracing Authority’s twelve strike rule related to the use of the crop by jockeys is now over a year old and many are still puzzling over the application and the seemingly haphazard dishing out of penalties.
Things are only confusing as the NHRA have failed to educate the media and the public This is excerbated by the fact that the reporting back on cases is generally scant and not up to standard.
Have a look at how the ERA report on inquiries to see how far behind we are
Now reading the weekly NHRA calendar, one can only wonder what Devin Habib did at Turffontein on 23 July and what conclusions we should draw?
Is he a serial offender or was he just really shocking on the day?
In just two races that afternoon he picked up R12 500 in fines and 4 days of suspensions for contravening rule Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop).
In the fifth, he was found to have struck Palace Assembly more than twelve times in the entire race. He was fined R5000 and suspended for two days, which incorporated one race meeting on 2 August 2020.
Three races later he repeated the offence, this time while riding Nabeela. There he was fined R7 500 and got another two day suspension incorporated the same race meeting on 2 August 2020. So how many times can a jockey be suspended from riding at the same race meeting?
With the dearth of information, we are often left guessing as to the quantum rationale of the fines.
Although the KZN Stipes did go into some commendable depth when Warren Kennedy struck Summer Pudding more than 12 times in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 on 28 June at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
They reported there that in deciding what action to take against Kennedy the Board considered the number of times (13) he struck his mount, the distance over which and manner in which, he used his crop, the fact that he won the race and his record (0) in relation to this Rule. Accordingly, a penalty of a R1000 was imposed.
Now that puts the fine in perspective but what has/did Devin Habib done to incur such wrath?
Looking at some of the other fines published recently, we are in the dark, as the range of the penalties for the apparent same infringment is diverse – and we only get half the story, if we are lucky.
GREYVILLE RACECOURSE – RACE 7 – 28.06.2020
E NGWANE (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop). For striking KEEP SMILING more than twelve times in the entire race. Suspended from riding in races for a period of seven (7) days from 30.07.2020 to 05.08.2020, both days inclusive.
FAIRVIEW RACECOURSE – RACE 7 – 31.07.2020
S L FORTUNE (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop).For striking WALLS OF DUBROVNIK more than twelve times in the entire race. Penalty: Warning.
SCOTTSVILLE RACECOURSE – RACE 1 – 29.07.2020
R D FOURIE (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop). For striking RITE OF PASSAGE more than twelve times in the entire race. Fined R1500
SCOTTSVILLE RACECOURSE – RACE 6 – 29.07.2020
D DILLON (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop). For striking BRASS BELL more than twelve times in the entire race. Penalty: Warning
FAIRVIEW RACECOURSE – RACE 6 – 03.08.2020
W G AGRELLA (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop)For striking QUEST more than twelve times in the entire race. Penalty: Warning.
VAAL RACECOURSE – RACE 5 – 30.07.2020
C B BANTAM (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop).For striking GREY STREET more than twelve times in the entire race. Fined R1000.
DURBANVILLE RACECOURSE – RACE 3 – 28.07.2020
G A BEHR (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop). For using his crop more than twelve times in the entire race while riding ROSEMARY MEADOW. Penalty: Warning.
FAIRVIEW RACECOURSE – RACE 4 – 31.07.2020
S R KHATHI (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop). For striking FLAME UP more than twelve times in the entire race. Fined R750.
TURFFONTEIN RACECOURSE – RACE 8 – 25.07.2020
N KLINK (Apprentice Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop). For striking GREEK FIRE more than twelve times in the entire race. Fined R1000.
SCOTTSVILLE RACECOURSE – RACE 9 – 29.07.2020
SERINO MOODLEY (Jockey) – Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop), For striking MAA NONU more than twelve times in the entire race. Fined R1500.
