NHA inquiries held during November
The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) has held a number of inquiries following incidents involving jockeys, workriders and trainers at various South African racecourses during the month of November.
As a result the NHA has handed down the following sentences:
Jockey Grant van Niekerk was handed a 14day suspension for failing to ensure he did not cause interference while riding Just My Style at Turffontein on 4 November.
He was given the right to appeal against the penalty.
Trainer Michael Mahiakola was found guilty of breaking rule 50.8.2 and handed a fine of R15,000.
Of this R10,000 is suspended for a year on condition he is not found guilty of contravening that rule during that period.
He entered News Flash and Francois P to race at Flamingo Park on 23 October when those horses had been at an unregistered spelling farm during a 30day period prior to the race.
He was given the right to appeal against the penalty.
Jockey Weichong Marwing was handed a 10-day suspension for failing to ride Cashin to the finish in Race 7 at Turffontein on 9 November.
He was given the right to appeal against the penalty.
Jockey Warren Kennedy was handed a seven-day suspension for causing interference to other runners while riding Sharp Seattle at Greyville on 12 November. He was given the right to appeal against the finding and penalty.
Jockey Doctor Lembethe was handed a sevenday suspension for failing to ensure he did not cause bunching and interference to other runners while riding Attic View at Greyville on 1 November.
He was given the right to appeal against the finding and penalty.
Jockey Collen Storey was handed a 14-day suspension after a urine sample taken from him at Scottsville on 6 September tested positive for Furosemide, a banned substance in terms of the rules.
He was given the right to appeal against the penalty.
Work rider Goodman Dadamasi was handed a suspension of nine workriders’ races.
He was found to have failed to ride Tremendous out to the end of Race 8 at the Vaal on 19 October, thereby prejudicing his chances of obtaining first place.
He was given the right to appeal against the penalty.
Jockey Anton Marcus was handed a seven-day suspension for failing to ensure he did not cause interference while riding Buffalo Soldier at Greyville on 8 November.
He was given the right to appeal against the penalty.
Jockey Gavin Lerena was suspended for eight days for failing to ensure he did not cause interference while riding Go Green at the Vaal on 24 October. He was given the right to appeal against the finding.