Calm Before The Storm. The filly canters to post (Equine Edge)
The Cape horse identifier, Nasiphi Sankahla, is the first reported casualty in the aftermath of the Magic Feet ringer debacle, following the running of the first race at Kenilworth last Wednesday. The National Horseracing Authority have informed us that an enquiry is pending.
When the Sporting Post first broke the news of the identity crisis in the course of the midweek meeting at Kenilworth, outraged punters and racing experts speculated and vented their anger as the chat forums and our own comments lines were buzzing. In racing terms the damaging incident went viral, with comments being made from as far afield as Australia.
The story also hit the front page of the Cape Times on Thursday. Just proving again that sensation sells. Horseracing is lucky to get a fashion model posing gingerly with a horse in the mainstream news at around J&B Met time. If we are lucky! With the facts still unclear in many respects, the National Horseracing Authority have certainly acted quickly in taking decisive action against the person at the centre of the storm. But the entire process and the relevant checks and balances are looking decidedly shaky at this point. There are many questions to be answered, and the possibility remains that other officials will be subjected to disciplinary action.
We have learnt reliably that Miss Sankahla had a known fear of approaching horses, and a picture is emerging of a person who was not suited or seemingly qualified for the important position which she held. As Murphy would have it (or Sod’s Law as Joey Ramsden prefers) Magic Feet was the long priced winner of the race. While slow off and unwanted in the betting, she flew late to down the odds on favourite, Abyssinia.
It is notable (and possibly of future importance in terms of removing the possibility of motive) that there was little betting interest in the winner who started at 66/1 and paid over R50 for a tote win. The quartet on the race paid over R180 000. It appears that the identity fault was only detected by another official after the all clear had been posted.
The winning stakes have been forfeited and Abyssinia declared the winner. The official records reflecting the performance of Magic Feet have been expunged, according to the NHA. It has since transpired that the actual winner was a filly from the Hodgson yard, named Ignition Lady.
There has naturally been an outcry from the public, and particularly from the backers of the odds on favourite. There is no known legal precedent in South Africa for any compensatory action in the case where negligence on the part of the racing authorities may be proven to have resulted in a loss to punters
The official Stipes Report
The Horse Identifier, Miss Nasiphi Sankahla, who was relieved of her duties after the 1st Race, by Miss Phumla Peter, checked the Identity Documents of all the horses engaged for today’s race meeting. With the exception of MAGIC FEET, in the 1st Race, (whose identity is the subject of an Objection), the markings of the runners were found to correspond with their passports. AHS and Equine Influenza vaccinations confirmed as per normal procedure.
An Objection has been lodged by a Member of the Stipendiary Board against MAGIC FEET being declared the winner of the 1st Race.
NHA Press Release
A Member of the Western Cape Stipendiary Board lodged an Objection against MAGIC FEET being declared the winner of the 1st Race, [Ref. K215 Welcome to Kenilworth Maiden Plate (F & M) run over 1000M], on Wednesday 6th November 2013, in terms of Rule 68.3.4, in that the filly, which was entered for and had run in this race under the name of MAGIC FEET was in fact a filly called IGNITION LADY.
The Objection Board, after considering the evidence presented found that it was conclusively proved that the horse MAGIC FEET had not participated in the race but that the horse IGNITION LADY in fact ran and won the 1st Race. Accordingly the Objection was upheld. In terms of Rule 69.6 the horse that ran as MAGIC FEET is disqualified from the race, and the Judges’ placings were amended accordingly. All records pertaining to MAGIC FEET, in this race, are to be expunged from the Official records. Furthermore, the provisions of Rule 67.7.8.1, pertaining to Stake money applies.
Further Press Release by NHA
The NHA confirms that following the objection against MAGIC FLEET being declared the winner of Race 1 [Ref. K215 Welcome to Kenilworth Maiden Plate for (F & M) run over 1000M] on Wednesday 6 November 2013, a disciplinary hearing was held into the conduct of the Horse Identifier.
After considering the evidence presented at the disciplinary hearing it was established that the Horse Identifier, Miss Nasaphi Sankahla, had failed to properly identify the horse which had been presented as MAGIC FLEET. The micro-chip number and passport markings clearly showed that this horse was not MAGIC FLEET and she failed to bring this to the attention of the Stipendiary Board prior to the race being run. In determining a sanction, the Disciplinary Committee considered Miss Sankahla’s evidence in mitigation, the consequences of her failure to execute her duties and her disciplinary record. Miss Sankahla’s contract with The National Horseracing Authority was terminated and her licence as a Horse Identifier was cancelled.
The incident brought the best out of some of South Africa’s bookmakers, including Hollywood, who issued the following statement:
Due to the controversy surrounding the identity of the winner ‘’Magic Feet’’ and the possible disqualification, HOLLYWOOD have decided as a gesture of good will to their punters and in the spirit of fair play to refund the stakes on straight win bets struck on the 2nd placed horse ABYSSINIA. Account holders will be credited and cash punters in possession of their tickets can go to their nearest HOLLYWOOD branch for their refund.
While many leading racing figures in South Africa have expressed the view off the record that the NHA needs to be seen to be acting decisively and transparently in the best interests of the game, the local racing operator and Saftote have been mum in reaction to their customers.
What some of our readers said:
Albertrossi:
“What about the other ‘shock’ results, the worst being Western Wu in the fourth race that paid R77.80 for a win and R18.30 for a place? It was 12 to 13 lengths behind the winner in its only two runs. The other ‘shock’ winner, Western Movie, was extraordinary in so much that it finished at the back of the field in three out of four of it’s last runs and in the other it was second last. I would like to think that there are some sort of enquiry into the sudden change in form when results like this happen. The ‘punter’ who keeps this game alive has the right to have an answer.”
Avanza
“Lesson 1. The punter is presumed to be an addicted fool.”
Lucky Luke
“Oh well, now we know that Ignition Lady is the one to follow when she has her first official race!”
