Andrew Fortune - Mardi Gras Ride

Comments made at the NHA AGM

Mr Fortune said he wished to raise one or two things that concerned him about racing at the moment. He said that he has been in racing all his life and that he had met some great people that ran racing. He said it worried him that Jockeys were allowed to drop their hands a furlong out and it is only certain jockeys that do it, and that they get away with it continuously. He said he was not referring to the bad jockeys, he was referring to one or two of the top jockeys.
The Chief Executive responded to Mr Fortune and said that it was something that was high on his list of priorities to attend to. He said that there was a problem, which Mr Fortune would have noted when he read his Press Release. He said that he had also heard the comments and he and Mr Hyde, the Racing Control Executive, were attending to this.
Mr Fortune raised his unhappiness in the current state of racing control. He further highlighted the ride on MARDI GRAS in May 2018. He said that he was flabbergasted that people could get away with that in racing. It was the most disgusting ride he had seen in years. He added that the tapes were sent overseas for comment and the reports were also negative and yet nothing was done about it. He said he raised this matter as he was passionate about racing.
The Chief Executive then advised Mr Fortune that he was not aware of the tapes having being sent to international jurisdictions for their reading of the race and he undertook to investigate and revert back to him.

....well if that is not a pot looking to out shine a kettle.....:S ....now that the shoe is on a trainers foot just ram it up a Jocks @rse....:dry:

....looks like Mr Fortune is trying so very hard as not to be direct on the matters of consistency.....maybe he has a bone to pick with the way he was treated as a jock.....:huh:

Inquiry - Jockey Andrew Fortune

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held in Cape Town on 20 June 2008, which was adjourned and resumed on 27 August 2008, Jockey Andrew Fortune was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.1, in that, whilst riding STRIKE AGAIN in Race 7 at the Durbanville Racecourse on Tuesday 12 February 2008, he failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that STRIKE AGAIN was given a full opportunity to win, or obtain the best possible placing. More particularly, in that he failed to ride STRIKE AGAIN after entering the straight in a manner which would have afforded STRIKE AGAIN a full opportunity to either win, or to obtain the best possible placing in that race.

Mr Fortune pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After considering all the evidence the Inquiry Board found Mr Fortune guilty. It was the view of the Inquiry Board that he should be afforded the opportunity to remain active, and accordingly, the Inquiry Board determined that a penalty of a suspension from riding in or attending race meetings for a period of one month, which is wholly suspended for a period of two years, calculated from 27 August 2008, on condition that he is not found guilty of a contravention of Rule 62.2.1, over the two year suspended period. Furthermore, the Inquiry Board imposed a fine of R50,000.00 (Fifty thousand Rand).

Mr Fortune elected to exercise his right to be legally represented at this Inquiry and therefore has no right of appeal.

I remember the time he rode a 4/10 shot of basil Marcus that he stopped riding and was showing off an early got caught by Fourie, was a short head. Still made the sporting post. I think he is now under pressure and jumped the fence and doesn’t want what he did to others done to him.

Muhti I am surprised that you have not had anything to say about the lack of integrity around a horses DNA. If I understand the NHA minutes correctly, an owner has made the allegation that there is no DNA record on file regarding his horse. If this is correct, it opens up a world of possibilities to unscrupulous people. Just imagine having similar horses incorrectly ( or deliberately ) micro-chipped. People could land up bidding on a Dynasty out of a GR1 winning mare, when in fact the horse in the ring is actually far inferior by fashion standards.......

.....I have been indirectly following that Spies spat on seeing that owners social media presence but still dont understand it fully.......he had a horse with Spies and it died and he wants DNA proof that it was his horse.....Firstly it was no Dynasty ......and what they are now still racing it under a different name.....:lol:

I also am not following the situation fully, but the fact that there is no DNA database is a very big problem. I don't think that you are getting my point however. Let me use a hypothetical example. A chestnut foal by Captain Al out of a Grade 1 mare is born on a commercial farm ie. Klawervlei, Summerhill, Maine Chance etc. These farms have hundreds of foals. A foal identical in colour and with similar markings is born on the same farm but its by a 1st season sire out of a maiden mare. Some poetic licence here, the foals are incorrectly identified by farm staff and micro-chipped incorrectly. The squib goes on the catalogue as the Captain Al and is bought for bombs. How do we know this hasn't happened before and is not still happening if theres no DNA?

......no DNA base or an incomplete data are 2 separate matters there must be a data base or why else would the NHRA be doing a DNA check on a horse whose passport is not reflecting the correct markings
......that owner with the spat with Spies is now also trying to expose that breeder that he was in partnership with..... who may not have followed procedure in the identification and chipping of horses he was involved with.....

......think that bigger problems with the AHS outbreak and non reporting are a bigger issue and again certain people are there trying to vindicate their actions on not following protocol .....that AGM has opened more that one can of worms.......and no RA representation reported......oh my what a day....:S

BATMAN wrote: I remember the time he rode a 4/10 shot of basil Marcus that he stopped riding and was showing off an early got caught by Fourie, was a short head. Still made the sporting post. I think he is now under pressure and jumped the fence and doesn’t want what he did to others done to him.

.....lets get back to the topic of this thread

.......that incident is also extensively covered on this very site......amazing what a search here brings up from the past....and a great reality check for those that have selective memories.....:huh:

......have nothing against Mr Fortune or others that aired their laundry at that NHRA AGM......but for FFS if racing is going to survive here the last thing we need is this queue of axe grinders trying to put the boot in while the NHRA is trying to get off the floor.......:dry:

He sounds like he’s talking from his pocket

Is that not what “ Real racing folk “

Say about us owners and punters

Bob Brogan wrote: He sounds like he’s talking from his pocket

Is that not what “ Real racing folk “

Say about us owners and punters

I hear this " talking from your pocket" more and more. Is it wrong speaking from your pocket?
We actually punt and play with real money and would like to think that your horse is given the best possible ride!
We all understand racing but if the Semela spectacle don't tell you that there is funny business going on in racing you must be very naive.
It is very hard for the man in the street to catch n p6 without inside information and knowledge about the wellbeing of a certain horse.. we as punters can only trust form and when your selection is obviously given a poor ride, one must stay calm and shut-up?... in most cases not to step in a jockey or trainers foot and hurt their feelings.
It would appear that the main peanuts forget who is paying for all of this... ja... the man talking from his pocket!

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