The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an inquiry held in Harare on Monday, 22 March 2021, Jockey Norbert Takawira was charged with contraventions of Rules 62.2.7 and 62.2.1.
The specifics of the charges being:
Charge 1 – in that as the rider of TECTONIC he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to HAWI, when he shifted out between the 200 and the 100m during Race 1 at Borrowdale Park on 3 January 2021.
Charge 2 – in that he failed to ride TECTONIC, placed third, with sufficient vigour and determination over the final 100m of the same race and by doing so, did not take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that this horse was given a full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible placing.
Jockey Takawira pleaded not guilty to both charges, however, the Inquiry Board after hearing the evidence, found him guilty on both charges.
After careful consideration was given to all the points of mitigation and aggravation, the Inquiry Board determined that Jockey Takawira should be:
- Suspended from riding in races for a period of fourteen days (Charge 1)
- Suspended from riding in races for a period of thirty days (Charge 2)
The Inquiry Board ruled that the two penalties are to run concurrently and that Jockey Takawira has the Right of Appeal against the findings and penalties imposed.
