NHRA Inquiry into Race 4 at Vaal Racecourse on 26 August 2010 – Declared Null and Void
The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held at its offices at Turffontein on Friday, 3 September 2010 before Mr R J Bloomberg (Chairman), Jockeys Stephen Swanepoel, Marco van Rensburg, Andrew Fortune, Marthinus Mienie, Gunter Wrogemann and Fanie Chambers, and Jockeys Sherman Brown, Francois Naude and Felix Coetzee, in abstentia, and Apprentice Nevresh Juglall, duly assisted by the Gauteng Academy Riding Master, Mr Gary Waterston, were charged with a contravention of Rules 61.5.16 and 61.6.3.2 in that on Thursday, 26 August 2010 at the Vaal Racecourse and prior to the running of Race 4 they inadvertently loaded and jumped from the incorrect barrier draw positions.
Rule 61.5.16 states inter alia that “No rider shall take up a position at the start of a race other than that allotted“ or “take any undue advantage at the start”.
Rule 61.6.3.2 states inter alia that “Riders shall ride their horses into their correct stalls”.
Jockeys Swanepoel, van Rensburg, Fortune, Mienie, Wrogemann and Chambers all pleaded not guilty to the charge, but were found guilty by the Board. A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of Jockeys Brown, Naude and Coetzee, but they were found guilty by the Board. Apprentice Juglall pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea to that of guilty, which was accepted by the Board.
In considering an appropriate penalty, the Inquiry Board was mindful of the fact that this was an isolated incident and highly unlikely to be repeated and that the riders concerned were embarrassed and remorseful as to what had transpired.
However, the Board felt that cognisance had to be taken of the nature and magnitude of the offence in question, in particular the impact on the racing and betting public, the owners and trainers of the horses in question, The National Horseracing Authority and its colour holders, and the general damage to the image of the industry both locally and abroad.
Further hereto any penalty imposed had to ensure future due diligence and vigilance by the riders in a professional sport.
Accordingly the following penalty was implemented: a fine of R10 000,00 of which R8 000,00 is suspended for a period of two years.
Jockeys Swanepoel, van Rensburg, Fortune, Mienie, Wrogemann, Chambers, Brown, Naude and Coetzee have the right of appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed.
Apprentice Juglall has the right of appeal against the penalty imposed.
Disciplinary Hearing – Starter Mr B E Ngcobo
The National Horseracing Authority confirms that a disciplinary hearing took place at its offices in Turffontein on Wednesday 8 September 2010. The hearing related to the start of Race 4 at the Vaal Racecourse on Thursday 26 August 2010. The Starter employed by the National Horseracing Authority was charged with unsatisfactory work performance in terms of The National Horseracing Authority’s disciplinary code, in that he failed to exercise proper care in the manner of discharge of his duties, resulting in the horses being loaded in, and starting from, the incorrect barrier draw positions.
The Starter pleaded guilty to the charge which was accepted by the Board.
The Board was of the view that, whilst there were a number of factors which contributed to the incorrect draw positions going undetected, it was the Starter who was ultimately responsible for ensuring that the horses were loaded into the correct starting stalls.
However, the Board felt that cognisance had to be taken of the nature and magnitude of the offence in question, in particular the impact on the racing and betting public, the owners and trainers of the horses in question, The National Horseracing Authority and its colour holders, and the general damage to the image of the industry both locally and abroad.
In mitigation however, the Board accepted that the Starter had taken responsibility, and demonstrated regret, for the incident. His clean record with regard to previous disciplinary matters of any nature was also taken into account. The Board was also of the view that this was an isolated incident which was unlikely to occur again.
In terms of the National Horseracing Authority’s Disciplinary Code, a penalty of a final written warning was imposed on the Starter.
