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SPORTING POST DIGEST • Thursday 18 aPRIl 2019 1 WED-FRI Thursday 18 april 2019 24-26 APRIL TBA Complex, Germiston FAIRVIEW POLY Friday Best Roving Banker: R8-(1)Drop Kick(3/1) GREYVILLE POLY Friday Best Roving Banker: R4-(4) Red Shift (4/1) TURFFONTEIN Saturday Best Roving Banker: R7-(1) La Bella Mia (5/1) DURBANVILLE Saturday Best Roving Banker: R2-(10)Sanskrift(15/10) SCOTTSVILLE Sunday Best Roving Banker: R1-(13) We Light The Fire (3/1) Tuesday 16 April Kenilworth – race 8 Sporting Post Best Handicapped Our jockeys spend years absorbing every aspect of a horse’s behaviour at point blank range. Al Jalali From mucking out boxes to grooming and passing delinquent youngsters through the starting stalls. WON 100/1 Surely our Stipendiary Stewards should be subjected to some of the same training? The men in suits with pen in hand who police the saddle and bridle, what right do you really have to be men in silks with crop in hand – always from a a Stipendiary Steward and interpret aspects related to safe distance. the thoroughbred? That includes overseeing objec- While it’s something that could be wildly imagined tions and interpreting race rides. at a stretch, it seems an anomaly that we expect The announcement by the National horseracing au- individuals, many of whom hardly relate to the thority earlier this week that KZN jockey Billy Jacobson quirks and behavioural traits of the thoroughbred, had been fined R20 000 for swearing at officials and for to have any real understanding of the dangers and improper behaviour has led to a public reaction - mostly risks associated with the psyche of the horse. supporting the jockey on his good character and track record. But also arguing that in the interests of fairness, yes, horses are likely to kick if you stand behind both sides of the story should be conveyed in instances them. That’s something we all learnt as youngsters. where the Nha effectively damages the reputation of But basics aside, if you can’t ride a horse and fit a an individual with the stroke of a pen. SPORTING POST DIGEST • Thursday 18 aPRIl 2019 2 MAKE THEM HORSEMEN! “There was wrongdoing on both sides in this matter. This is completely unfair and demoralising. Swearing at an individual is July - The First Entries not akin to swearing in their presence. Go to any training centre or racecourse. like it or not, swearing is part of the vocabulary of Gary alexander HERO'S hONOuR 107 many jockeys. It goes with the stress – the edge of working and Brett Crawford ChaRlES 104 living in the territory,” says a close friend of Billy Jacobson’s who Mike de Kock HAWWaaM 121 spoke to the Sporting Post. Mike de Kock BaRahIN 108 “It may look glamorous, but a jockey has a very high pressured job. Mike de Kock ALYAASaaT (AUS) 105 They put their lives at risk every single day. They are constantly Mike de Kock ATYAAB (AUS) 105 under the watchful eye of every spectator, stipe, commentator and Mike de Kock NOBlE SECRET 105 punter. They need to earn a living, keep a roof over their heads, Mike de Kock ThE DaZZlER 99 feed their families, stay alive, ride under stressful and frustrating Mike de Kock PROTEa PaRaDISE 92 conditions, watch their weight - and by constantly having to shed Dennis Drier LADy IN BlaCK 117 weight to enable them to at least get one ride they deprive their St Gray DaWN aSSAULT 106 bodies of electrolytes and nutrients,” she added. R a / S R hill CaMPhORaTuS 105 She suggested that all of this combined pressure could often put R a / S R hill RED ChESNuT ROaD 101 the individual on a knife edge. Duncan howells FIORElla 100 Duncan howells ThaNKSGIVING 97 “Surely anybody with compassion, basic training and simple com- mon sense would understand this?” J a Janse van Vuuren DIVINE ODySSEy 105 J a Janse van Vuuren DOOSRa 104 Billy Jacobson was apparently initially approached by the starter in Dean Kannemeyer SIlVa'S BullET 91 a threatening and intimidating way while passing a horse through Glen Kotzen EyES WIDE OPEN 111 the stalls at Summerveld. Glen Kotzen HERODOTuS 101 “Mr B Ngcobo approached Billy in an unprofessional and threaten- Paul lafferty DaRK MOON RISING 105 ing manner. he was about to jump a highly strung horse out of the Weiho Marwing SaMuRaI WaRRIOR 105 starting pens and Mr Ngcobo tried to engage Billy about something andre Nel hEaD hONChO 122 unrelated to the job at hand. This was definitely not the time and andre Nel RuN RED 94 place for it. If the Stipe had an issue he should have approached Joey Ramsden TWIST OF FaTE 115 Billy in a professional manner at a suitable time and place with the Joey Ramsden FRESNAYE 108 correct protocols in place. Not while he sat on the back of a frac- tious animal, endangering the lives of his horse and himself – and Frank Robinson ROy haD ENOuGh (AU 109 others. Even after Billy asked one of the Stipes’ colleagues to please Frank Robinson ROy'S RIVIERa (AUS 95 back off, Mr Ngcobo continued to provoke him.” Frank Robinson ARIaNOS ShaDOW 93 Frank Robinson TOP ClaSSMaN 85 Our source says that there were other jockeys present who wit- Eric Sands RaINBOW BRIDGE 124 nessed what happened. Justin Snaith DO IT aGaIN 125 “In Billy’s defence, he can surely argue that he was provoked? Justin Snaith Oh SuSaNNa (AUS) 118 Whilst he was on his horse minding his own business and doing his Justin Snaith MaDE TO CONQuER 108 job he was approached in an intimidating and threatening manner Justin Snaith MIYABI GOlD 105 by Mr B Ngcobo with no regard to the fragility of the situation or Justin Snaith DOuBlEMINT 104 consideration of the potential danger.” Justin Snaith MaGNIFICENT SEVEN 104 It is felt that if Jacobson has been charged for a contravention of Justin Snaith ELUSIVE SIlVa 103 rule 72.1.25 then Mr B Ngcobo, who approached and allegedly an- Justin Snaith BuNKER huNT 100 tagonised the jockey, needs to be charged accordingly. In fact, only Justin Snaith PlaTINuM PRINCE 97 after the approach did Billy react and breach rule 72.1.18. Sean Tarry lEGal EaGlE 118 “and the quantum of the fine is also puzzling. Billy doesn’t even Sean Tarry TIlBuRy FORT 110 earn that in a month – how do they ascertain the appropriate sum? Sean Tarry RETuRN FlIGhT 106 If these rules are there to protect everyone then they need to see Sean Tarry ZIllZaal 105 both sides. Rules should be there to protect everyone,” said the Sean Tarry ShENaNIGaNS 89 source, who confirmed that Billy Jacobson would be appealing and Sean Tarry SIlVER GOD 87 that this interview was provided by a third party without prejudice. Geoff Woodruff SECRET POTION 102 We await the day when the Nha will treat matters of dealing with Geoff Woodruff BaNNER hIll 99 their errant officials with the same transparent enthusiasm and alyson Wright FlIChITy By FaRR 94 expediency that they do with jockeys and trainers. can be purchased here SPORTING POST DIGEST • Thursday 18 aPRIl 2019 3 VODACOM DURBAN JULY WEEKEND RACING July Countdown Hedge The Sledge Past Vodacom Durban July winning trainers have a total of 29 The Sledgehammer (L) Scottsville Sunday of the 49 first entries announced on Wednesday for the R4,25 If he were still around today, the great New Zealand bred Sledge- million 2200m spectacular to be contested at Greyville on hammer would have been nearing his half century. The Fred Saturday 6 July. Rickaby star won 21 races and his memory is commemorated There are 13 Gr1 winners in the 2019 renewal! with the running of Sunday’s Scottsville feature. The past winner entry charge is led by the defending title holder Weighted on merit rating bands, the (2018 top three!) and Sa Champion Justin Snaith (9), followed R150 000 listed Sledgehammer is run on by Mike de Kock (7), Sean Tarry (6), Geoff Woodruff (2), Glen the Scottsville 1750m outside track and Kotzen (2) and Joey Ramsden (2), while multiple July winner is a traditional low-key season opener for Dean Kannemeyer has registered a single entry. some of the big guns looking to stretch Snaith, who won the race last year with Do It again, legislate their legs. (2014) and Dancer’s Daughter in 2008, has a powerful hand, Mike and adam azzie have been in a rich which includes last year’s historic Sun Met winner Oh Susanna – vein of form in Gauteng and they saddle Made To Conquer |Gold Circle whose racing future is said to be in some doubt. the SP top-rated smart Western Winter Mike de Kock, who won the July in 2002 with Ipi Tombe, in 2004 4yo Orpheus who comes in here on a hat-trick after two smart with Greys Inn, and then in consecutive years with Bold Silvano wins . he has shown ability up to 2400m and seldom runs a bad (2010) and Igugu (2011), has a power hand led by 3yo’s haw- race. With jockey Marco van Rensburg riding the crest of a wave, waam and the dark horse, Barahin. he could be tough to peg back. a notable absentee in the De Kock arsenal is Buffalo Bill Cody, Snaith’s Platinum Prince ran a decent fourth on his aS Champions who was scratched from the Queen’s Plate and has not been Season debut in the Kings Cup and will be much fitter and ready for seen since.

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