Speculation Aside…We Are Set For A Super Sunday!

Hollywoodbets Greyville home straight (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

In the light of the National Horseracing Authority’s recent action in regard to record random out of competition testing, which reached a peak in the Hollywoodbets Durban July week, and the unprecedented withdrawal of three runners from Thursday’s Turffontein meeting, the industry is rife with speculation that Sunday’s season climax meeting could be impacted upon.

Last Monday a variety of horses, including runners involved in Sunday’s racemeeting, were tested.

The Sporting Post asked the National Horseracing Authority earlier this week, as well as a variety of racing administrators, to allay public doubt and set the record straight ahead of Sunday. No comment was received.

There have been plenty of calls to our offices and emails from readers. The speculation includes talk of horses being withdrawn, and the uncertainty is potentially detracting from a terrific day to end a great season.

Seasoned racing man Selwyn Elk wrote to the Sporting Post Mailbag earlier today asking why racing authorities are not dealing with the speculation and uncertainty.

‘There are a number of runners from a variety of Gauteng stables that could be impacted upon on Sunday. Are the public not entitled to know what is going on regarding the investigations, or are the hierarchy keeping it a secret or playing Ostrich with the racing public?’ wrote Mr Elk, who also forwarded us a variety of whatsapp messages, that we regrettably are not in a position to reproduce.

A legal source told the Sporting Post that the reality is that any ongoing investigations that may be underway are sub judice, and specimen testing and building of cases involve both time and process.

The NHA can thus hardly be blamed for not making any statements based on what is largely circumstantial collateral and allegations. It would also not be fair to any of the trainers listed in the various Stipes reports. On the flip-side, nothing is stopping any of them from issuing statements.

To our knowledge, the tests are done on a mostly random basis. The time-frames are also unknown.

For now, there are 14 runners, including 7 reserves, scratched from the Hollywoodbets Greyville racemeeting on Sunday.

The meeting starts at 11h10. The Pick 6 is projected to reach R12 million.

• The Bipot starts in the second race at 11h45
• The Place Accumulator starts in the third race at 12h20
• The Pick 6 starts in the fourth race at 12h55
• The first Jackpot starts in the fifth race at 13h30
• The second Jackpot starts in the seventh race at 14h50