The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirms that an Inquiry was held at its offices on 12 September 2016, into the circumstances surrounding an objection which was lodged immediately after the running of the first race at Turffontein on Saturday, 3 September 2016. The Inquiry Board consisted of Adv D Beasley S.C. (Chairman), Mr R S Napier and Adv A Jordaan. The race was a maiden plate and the winner was QUERARI VIKING trained by Mr Ormond Ferraris and ridden by Jockey Sherman Brown. It won by 1.1 lengths. The second placed horse was NORDIC STORM trained by Mr Michael Azzie and ridden by Jockey Karl Zechner. It was having its first run. The grounds of complaint were two-fold: first, an allegation of interference by the winner immediately after the start which resulted in the second horse clipping the heels of the winner; second, an interference which took place at the 300m mark which also resulted in the second horse clipping the heels of the winner.

The objection came before a Board consisting of Mr T Khanyile (the Race Day Chairman) and Messrs G Timm and G Foxcroft. The Board viewed the various films of the race and heard comments from the two respective Trainers and Jockeys. The Board came to a decision (by a majority of 2 to 1 with Mr Foxcroft dissenting) that the objection be upheld. Accordingly, the placings were reversed. When this decision was announced a number of angry punters gathered outside the Stipes Boardroom and voiced their displeasure with the decision. In passing, the winner had been backed to favouritism while the second horse had also attracted market support and went off as the second favourite. Later Mr Khanyile was later interviewed by Tellytrack to explain the reasons for the decision. His explanation did not satisfy the punters and further criticism was voiced. Mr Arnold Hyde, the Racing Control Executive then announced that an Inquiry would be conducted into the entire incident. Hence, the convening of the present Inquiry Board.

At the Inquiry, the various films of the race were viewed by the Board. This took place in the presence of Mr Deanthan Moodley, the NHA’s Legal Counsel (who gave his reading of the race) and the three Stipes who had sat on the Objection Board. In the course of the discussions which then followed, it transpired that there was no real dispute about the decision to uphold the objection. It was a wrong decision. In brief, the first complaint was without any merit at all. The second horse had lost 2 - 3 lengths at the start (as confirmed by the Starter) and no interference or clipping of heels occurred. As for the second complaint, again, no interference or clipping of heels took place. During this part of the Inquiry Mr Khanyile candidly admitted that, having gone through the films after the date of the incident, he conceded that he had been wrong. He admitted that he had made a mistake. Mr Timm expressed similar views. As for the Inquiry Board itself, it was satisfied that the objection was wholly groundless and was in fact frivolous. That effectively disposed of the objection issue. It may merely be noted that Mr Moodley confirmed there was no evidence whatsoever to suggest that the two Stipes who had upheld the decision, had in any way done so out of improper or sinister motives.

The Inquiry Board went on to point out that it had no power to interfere with, or alter the decision in any way. Further, the Inquiry Board pointed out that it also had no power to conduct a Disciplinary Hearing into the conduct of the Stipes arising out of their duties as employees of the NHA. This is a matter between the NHA itself and them. On this aspect, it was up to the NHA to take whatever further action it deemed appropriate in all the circumstances. The Inquiry was then closed.

In the light of the above findings, the NHA has decided to initiate internal Disciplinary Hearings.