Stipe admits his error

www.sportingpost.co.za/2016/09/turffonte...disciplinary-action/

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.
Karl Zechner - lodged the objection Karl Zechner – lodged the objection

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.

National Horseracing AuthorityWhen 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 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.
National Horseracing AuthorityIn 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.
Thulani Khanyile - admits he erred Thulani Khanyile – admits he erred

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.
National Horseracing AuthorityThe 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.

How can legal council state that "there was no evidence whatsoever that the two stipes.....had in anyway done so out of improper or sinister motives", without his mandate being to look far and wide for this. It's easy enough for me to get an associate to take a bet on my behalf

"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."

"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 damning. It shows that Mr Hyde does not have a grasp of the NHA rules. Scary stuff

As always if we can pass the buck, why not?

As my friend used to say, regret comes too late. We have lost our money :S

Sadly,this report contradicts the admission of mistake!
Mistake or incompetence would be the failure to be aware of, or to understand or interpret the rules of the NHA!
It is clear from this report , that using the same evidence,available at the time,this enquiry has to conclude that the the stipes were either blind or lied about the visual evidence!
The chief stipe agrees to the Tellytrack interview ,but he is aggressively defensive,stating that he will not respond to questions .....does that not further suggest he is not prepared to be trapped into defending the indefensible?
Nothing in this report supports a finding of "mistake" but rather dishonesty about the visual evidence and that cannot be interpreted as anything but sinister!

So who is going to pay me out for my tickets that have now been recycled?

That was a long story for nothing?
I am not sure what was achieved, would it be fair to say this can never happen again..

i said on the day the enquiry was announced, what can they do? the objection was upheld on the stipes opinion

Terrible a decision as it may be, was there any "rules" broken ?

My problem is, has this "tool" learnt his lesson ? What does the future hold ? Can we as owners/punters expect fair play or will there be an inquiry every other week ? Will his learning curve improve with time and at what expense to punters and owners ?

my question is this. Will Mr. T Khanyile be allowed to be ( the Race Day Chairman ) in future or will he be given a lesser roll to play. I.e. an ordinary Stipe on the day ?

I may have been refunded my WIN stake from HOLLYWOOD but, all doubles & trebles , were thrown in the trash can. Surely Mr Khanyile has to serve some " time " for his very costly " mistake "

The 2 stipes should never be allowed to perform that role again.

to easy to say oops we made a mistake.

This fish smells rotten