The National Horseracing Authority’s new crop penalty guidelines published in April bit one jockey hard at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, with one injudicious strike over the twelve limit costing him R6 000 in a maiden race.
A table was published in April covering the amended penalty guidelines pertaining to the contraventions of Rule 58.10.2 (Guideline M).
| PENALTY GUIDELINE DOCUMENT | ||||||
| RULE 58.10.2 (GUIDELINE M) | ||||||
| No. of | No. of Crop Strikes | No. of Crop Strikes | No. of Crop Strikes | No. of Crop Strikes | No. of Crop Strikes | No. of Crop Strikes |
| Offenses | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 1 | R2 000 | R4 000 | R7 500 | R10 000 | R20 000 | R25 000 |
| + 7 days | + 14 days | |||||
| 2 | R3 000 | R6 000 | R10 000 | R15 000 | R25 000 | R30 000 |
| + 10 days | + 21 days | |||||
| 3 | R4 000 | R8 000 | R15 000 | R20 000 | R30 000 | R45 000 |
| + 14 days | + 21 days | |||||
| 4 | R5 000 | R10 000 | R20 000 | R25 000 | R50 000 | R50 000 |
| + 7 days | + 14 days | + 30 days | ||||
| 5 | R6 000 | R12 000 | R25 000 | R25 000 | R50 000 | R60 000 |
| + 10 days | + 21 days | + 30 days | ||||
| 6 | R7 500 | R15 000 | R25 000 | R30 000 | R60 000 | R75 000 |
| + 7 days | + 14 days | + 30 days | + 45 days | |||
| 7 | R10 000 | R20 000 | R30 000 | R40 000 | R60 000 | R75 000 |
| + 10 days | + 14 days | + 45 days | + 60 days | |||
| 8 | R15 000 | R30 000 | R35 000 | R50 000 | R75 000 | R90 000 |
| + 14 days | + 21 days | + 45 days | + 60 days | |||
| 9 | R20 000 | R40 000 | R40 000 | R50 000 | R75 000 | R100 000 |
| + 21 days | + 30 days | + 60 days | + 75 days | |||
| GUIDELINE PENALTIES TO BE ASSESSED AS PER RESPECTIVE CROP STRIKE NUMBER & OCCURRENCE FROM 01/09/2022 | ||||||
| * LISTED and GRADED RACES:
ADD 14 DAYS & 5% OF STAKE MONEY TO RESPECTIVE PENALTY IN GUIDELINE TABLE |
||||||
| * TWO (2) OFFENCES ON THE SAME DAY:
PROCEED TO THE NEXT PENALTY IN GUIDELINES |
||||||
| * WORK RIDER RACES TO BE EXCLUDED AND ASSESSED IN ISOLATION | ||||||
| ONCE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CROP OFFENSES EXCEEDS NINE (9), THE FOLLOWING WILL APPLY: | ||||||
| * AUTOMATIC MINIMUM SUSPENSION OF 14 DAYS & R25 000 TO BE ADDED TO THE LAST PENALTY | ||||||
The permitted number of strikes with the crop remain at twelve, however the penalties in relation to contraventions of this rule and guideline increased on 14 April 2023, and past contraventions from 1 September 2022 are now taken into account when considering penalties.
Ashton Arries – expensive trip to Cape Town (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
On Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, jockey Ashton Arries was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) in that he misused his crop by striking Lady Renee more than 12 times in the entire fourth race.
The filly started at 12-1 and was beaten 0,30 lengths into second by the favourite Apple Catcher.
Arries signed an admission of guilt and was fined R6000.
In determining penalty, the Board took into account his record and the number of strikes (13). By deduction, this means it was Arries’ fifth crop offence since 1 September 2022. On the positive side, just two more whacks with the crop would have mean a R25 000 penalty!
In the same race, jockey Aldo Domeyer was charged with a contravention of Rule 55.4 in that he failed to weigh out at the carded weight on Simply Beautiful, resulting in Diego De Gouveia taking over and riding a half kilo over. The usually consistent maiden ran unplaced.
Domeyer signed an admission of guilt and was fined R1000.
