MARCUS POSTIVE

Read SAHORSERACING.COM Fine of R25000 and a long explanation as to why it is so small.Gavin v Zyl won't be happy!!
Rules for some

Geri, you dont have a clue as to the facts so instead of making an uniformed comment as to "rules for some" find out the real facts first!

Sorry Please let me have the facts

Dont think you will find them on the ABC website.....if you really want them suggest you get them from the NHA

The NHA made a long qualifing statemant as to the reason for the lower fine that is on sahorseracing.com. No other facts
The fact is all first offenders get a R40k fine as the norm and R60 for a 2nd offence.The rule does not care what the substance is only that even if the trainer is away overseas he still is the responsible person Harsh but a fact.

The following is from the R.A. website

27 Aug. Trainer gavin van zyl fined R40,00 on a doping charge
23 June Trainer david Nieuwenhuizen fined R 40,000 on a doping charge
10 Oct. Trainer Basil Marcus fined R 25,000 ? on a doping charge.

with regard to Basil Marcus inquiry the board found " that Mr Marcus had an exemplary record both a jockey & a trainer " etc..etc... & so the fine was reduced to R25,000. The fact that Basil was a TOP CLASS JOCKEY has nothing to do at all, with regards him being found guilty as A TRAINER on a doping charge.

In the case of Mr Nieuwenhuizen, it was established that the " owner & stable employee " of this racing stable ADMITTED HIMSELF to administering the prohibited substances. Nevertheless Mr Nieuwenhuizen had to plead guilty as he was the responsible trainer concerned.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen did APPEAL the harsh 1st time penalty, but the fine of R 40,000 stood ( even after the stable employee admitting doping HIS OWN HORSE )

This was a 1st offence for Mr Nieuwenhuizen. Mr O. Ferraris ( out of his own accord ) spoke as a character witness on behalf of Mr Nieuwenhuizen.

Sadly THE FINE WAS NOT REDUCED.

Seems to me THAT THE PLAYING FIELDS ARE NOT LEVEL - be it fines on trainers or Jockeys. They are just NOT CONSISTENT ENOUGH.

Well it's obvious that Van Zyl does not have an exemplary record as a jockey and trainer like Marcus, or that his drugs where 'performance enhancing'. Same for Nieuwenhuizen. Not!

If I were them, I would insist on having my sentence reviewed now that the nhra accepts 'exemplary' records and whether drugs are for 'performance enhancing' or not as mitigation for reduced sentencing.

Ground breaking stuff!

Exemplary record? What about a trainer with a 30 year clean record.
R3k or R5k Must be a few dozen around
Who sat on the board? Understand they were not local.
Need to make some calls

Made those calls.Various opinions but certain facts.
This was not the the first time a horse from the Marcus stable was tested positive by the NHA lab.The specimen of the B sample was tested for the DNA of the horse and the result was "inconclusive"As a result the charge was dismissed.
A quote by a fellow trainer "I like Basil and feel he is good for cape racing but believe me with the number of winners and the size of his stable mistakes will occur"unquote
As for the drug found ,the horse is difficult in the gate and buscopan has a sedative effect on a horse.On the day the horse loaded quietly!

Geri...if you have the time or the inclination please go onto the Freeracer website and read Mr Bloombergs article.....

Read Bloombergs tome of congratulion to himself. This is a biased opinion but never has any mitigation been accepted by the NHA.I note that you are the stables biggest owner and have the facts ,perhaps you can tell us if the previous positive that was'nt was from one of yours?

Definately wasnt....and by the way it wasnt positive.