The National Horseracing Authority confirms in a media release that at an Inquiry held in Cape Town on Thursday 4 May 2023, Jockey Grant van Niekerk was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.3.
The particulars being that he failed to ride Trivial Matter out to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stipendiary Stewards and prejudiced his chances of obtaining fourth place in Race 6 over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on 11 April 2023.
Grant Van Niekerk – ten days holiday (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Jockey van Niekerk pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.
The Inquiry Board, after considering the evidence presented and all mitigating and aggravating factors, ruled that Jockey van Niekerk be suspended from riding in races for a period of ten (10) days.
Van Niekerk has the Right of Appeal against the finding and the penalty imposed.
Watch the final stages replay – Van Niekerk is in the dark blue cap in second:
In other penalties issued:
Trainer Des McLachlan was fined R10 000 in that he presented the incorrect horse, HAYAT, in the fifth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 19 April 2023 when GLOBAL PATH was the horse carded to race, resulting in GLOBAL PATH being withdrawn.
As published in the Vaal Stipes report of 4 May 2023, trainer Jaap Visser signed an admission of guilt for a contravention of Rule 10.5.1 in that he failed to provide a reasonable level of care to the horses under his control, by not providing them with sufficient bedding.
A penalty of a warning was imposed.
