Latest news with #NationalHorseracingAuthority
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Jockey bans stuck in ‘due process'
Some fans are indignant as Lerena heads for the title. Gavin Lerena is galloping towards a national jockey championship but will have the very slow, grinding gears of legal 'due process' to thank if he does clinch the title. After the past weekend, Lerena was nine winners clear of defending champ Richard Fourie with less than three weeks – and 15 race days – to go in the 2024/25 season. The Joburg ace's agent is earning his crust, with his man heavily booked around the country throughout this week, so the odds are with him to land a first crown since 2015. Bookmakers recently closed their books on the race – interestingly at a stage when Fourie was still the favourite. Fourie, who set a new record of 378 winners last season, does not appear much engaged in the contest and isn't travelling as much as he did in 2024 – or as much as Lerena is doing now. Nevertheless, he does have retainers and/or arrangements with prolific trainers Alan Greeff and Justin Snaith and could still trim the lead – especially if his rival suffers a mishap (God forbid, of course). Neither of the riders have imminent suspensions to worry about – unlike third-placed jockey Craig Zackey, who is currently forced to sit on the sidelines. But herein lies the rub. Suspensions Lerena has an effective 47 days of suspensions in abeyance due to appeals he has lodged with the National Horseracing Authority and which have yet to be heard. The most serious of these is an effective 30-day ban for an incident involving himself and colleague Jason Gates at Turffontein on 26 January this year. The racing world was shocked when, during a race, Lerena stood up in his irons and lashed at Gates with his whip. The NHA took until mid-April to convene a hearing on this 'road rage' moment. It found him guilty of various counts and imposed a 90-day suspension with 60 days suspended for two years. He also got a R200,000 fine with half suspended. Lerena issued a public apology for losing his rag but still appealed against the findings and the penalty. That appeal is still to be heard – due to 'due process'. The popular rider has three other appeal cases pending, involving suspensions and cash fines. It's obvious things would have been very different if he'd been forced to serve his bans during the season in which they were incurred. Racing website comment sections are full of indignation. But the law's the law. Most newly crowned champions take a well-earned vacation after the frenetic efforts required to get the job done. It's possible Gav won't have much choice in the matter.
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Handicappers S.M.I.L.E. on July champ
The Real Prince raised five points for thrilling win. The Real Prince, right, wins the Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville Racecourse on Sunday. Picture: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images The Real Prince has been raised five merit points to 125 following his victory in the past weekend's Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville. The National Horseracing Authority issued an unusually thorough explanation of their deliberations and decisions concerning South Africa's biggest race. The NHA even used the adjective 'thrilling' to describe The Real Prince's win – though its officials are meant to be objective and dispassionate about their work. The statement used other emotive words: 'This was a notable achievement from The Real Prince, as he had previously never raced beyond 1600m and, in fact, his pre-rating of 120 was earned exclusively over shorter trips. 'In handicapping terms, The Real Prince transitioned from the miler aptitude category to the longer-distance category – and did so with a resolute win.' After all that enthusiasm, one might have expected more than five merit rating points. The NHA continued: 'To structure distance aptitude assessments, handicappers often refer to the S.M.I.L.E. acronym: S — Sprint (1000m-1300m) M — Mile (1301m-1899m) I — Intermediate (1900m-2100m) L — Long (2101m-2700m) E — Extended (2701m-and above) 'In determining the updated ratings, the handicappers unanimously selected Royal Victory, the ever-reliable fourth-place finisher, as the line horse, leaving him at a rating of 125. This approach also validated Madison Valley's performance, as the fifth-place finisher ran precisely to his mark of 115, effectively making him a second line horse. 'Eight On Eighteen, the gallant runner-up, reaffirmed his Daily News 2000 merit rating of 129 with a spirited performance. He finished narrowly behind the winner and 2.60 lengths ahead of the 125-rated Royal Victory while carrying 2kg less.' The NHA went on the explain the 'maths for Eight On Eighteen's performance'. • Base: MR 125 (Royal Victory, line horse) • +4 MR points: Margin ahead of the line horse (2.60 lengths = 4 MR points), applying the length distance factor over 2200m • –4 MR points: Weight difference as per race conditions (in receipt of 2kg) • +4 MR points: Weight-for-Age adjustment (3yold WFA allowance in July over 2200m) • Performance Rating: 129 – Final Third-placed Selukwe was the only other runner to get an MR increase, moving from 111 to 115, justified by his under-sufferance position of 2kg going into the race. All other participants maintained their prior ratings, except Purple Pitcher, whose merit rating was reduced from 122 to 121. Assessment of the other Grade 1 race on Durban July day, the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m for females at weight-for-age, saw winner Double Grand Slam retain her official MR of 122. 'Having performed to expectations', she was used by the handicappers as the line horse to guide assessment of the field. Runner-up Mon Petit Cherie, who finished 0.80 lengths behind, was raised from 113 to 120. Just Be Lekker, who was fourth, three lengths behind the winner, was raised from 109 to 116, 'reflecting the quality of her performance'. I Am Giant has had his rating increased from 116 to 119 following his victory in the Grade 3 Post Merchants over 1200m. King Pelles has been adjusted up from 112 to 118 following his easy victory in the Grade 3 Durban Gold Vase over 3000m. Fourth-placed Shoot The Rapids was the line horse and remains unchanged at 112. 'King Pelles delivered a performance that warranted a higher rating; however, his increase was capped at 118, in accordance with race conditions that limit adjustments to six points for winners and three points for placed runners,' explained the NHA. Grade 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 winner Otto Luyken has been increased from 114 to 116. Due to interference affecting multiple runners in the closing stages, the handicappers assessed the race using the lowest possible route. Navajo Nation (runner-up) was selected as the line horse, retaining his rating of 104. Further increases were Johnny The Thief from 92 to 94 and Count Huhtikulu from 91 to 95. Sunday in Joburg saw Choisaanada complete a clean sweep of the inaugural Highveld Winter Series with victory in the 4Racing Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside track. Accordingly, his MR has been raised from 106 to 112. 'Although Choisaanada delivered a performance deserving of a higher rating, his merit was capped at 112 in accordance with the race conditions, which permit a maximum increase of six points for the winner and do not allow rating increases for placed horses,' said the handicapping team.
The Citizen
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
JP cops hefty fine for his part in jockey strike fiasco
The popular jockey signed an admission of guilt for contravening Rule 72.1.27. Anyone who thought last month's Great Jockey Strike would blow over quickly was being optimistic. Yes, the Coastal Jockeys Association did issue a grovelling apology for its members refusing to continue riding at Durbanville racecourse on 26 March after officials suspended one of them. Yes, the case against Grant van Niekerk – the jockey at the centre of the row – was conducted speedily and many racing fans were looking forward to it being consigned to the 'Embarrassing History' filing cabinet. But far too much money was lost by too many people on that wacky Wednesday for accountability and repercussions to be easily waved away. JP fined Yesterday, the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) announced a R100 000 fine for jockey JP van der Merwe for joining the strike action – with R50 000 suspended for five years. ALSO READ: Jockey tomfoolery looks to be sorted out The popular jockey signed an admission of guilt for contravening Rule 72.1.27 'in that he, as a rider who was carded to participate in scheduled races, and without any lawful justification, was party to a protest action which resulted in the abandonment of the race meeting', read the NHA press release. Other jockeys given option to acknowledge guilt The Sporting Post reports that other jockeys involved in the protest also have an option to sign acknowledgements of guilt. Those who do not will face a further NHA inquiry. This could get uglier and costlier. The trouble erupted at Durbanville's midweek meeting when winning jockey Van Niekerk used his post-race interview to criticise the NHA for punishment it had handed him for an earlier infraction of the rules – causing interference to other runners in a race at Kenilworth. NOW READ: OPINION: Grant van Niekerk lobs a grenade
