A KZN jockey has felt the full might of the National Horseracing’s Authority’s wrath, despite the fact that he appears to have genuinely erred rather than intentionally conspired to commit an offence.
Gareth Wright’s family are rallying round to garner support to assist him.
A clearly upset Karen Wright told the Sporting Post on Tuesday that while she respected the racing regulator’s role in enforcing rules, she did not believe that her son warranted the level of financial punishment meted out for his underweight contravention.
Gareth Wright – hard to comprehend the overall penalty (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The impact on his financial position, coupled with his current injuries, was potentially devastating.
The Sporting Post reported in October last year that a hundred gram underweight on a hot KZN raceday day cost jockey Gareth Wright a month’s earnings. But the penalty has taken on greater gravity after his appeal failed.
The National Horseracing Authority charged Gareth with a contravention of Rule 21.11, read with Rule 66.4 after he rode Guy Fox to win the fourth race at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on 13 October 2021. Wright failed to ensure that his mount carried the correct weight during the running of the race, by weighing in at more than 0,5kg below the weight at which he was declared out at.
Guy Fox was disqualified.
Jockey Wright pleaded guilty to the charge and was found guilty of the charge.
At the time, the NHA Inquiry Board, after considering all mitigating and aggravating evidence, which included the finishing position of GUY FOX and the extent of the underweight, imposed a penalty of a suspension on Jockey Wright from riding in races for a period of 30 days.
Wright subsequently appealed the gravity of the fine, which was heard in Johannesburg on Tuesday by Adv K Lapham-Fourie, Ms B Loonat and Mr A Sewpersad.
None of the above are known to the Sporting Post.
The Appeal Board, after hearing the submissions put forward in this matter, both on behalf of the Appellant and on behalf of the Respondent, ruled:
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That the Appeal be dismissed.
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That Jockey Wright was afforded every opportunity to be heard and present his case at the Inquiry stage, and had failed to provide any merits for the Appeal.
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That this matter had no prospect of success on Appeal and was in fact frivolous.
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A cost order was granted against Jockey Wright in the amount of R30 000.
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The Appeal fee was forfeited
So despite losing a full month of income, Wright, who has suffered two falls recently and is currently sidelined with concussion, now has to pay the costs.
