Shocking.....some jocks get longer than that for going one over the allocated 12 strikes to a horse.
Min 6 months ban for whipping Gates.....3 months for bringing racing into disrepute for acting like a savage,screened to the whole world on social media,and another 3 months for not riding his horse to get the best possible position.
Appeal Board Ruling:The Appeal Board issued the following order:
The appeal is dismissed and the decision of the Inquiry Board is upheld.The appellant (Jockey G Lerena) is ordered to pay the costs of the Appeal Board which convened on 18 August 2025.Jockey Lerena’s appeal fee is forfeited.
Jockey Lerena’s suspension will run from 12 September to 11 October 2025(both days inclusive).
This is embarrassing for the NHA.
jocks rather strike each other vs strike a horse over x amount of times.
The re-run is available...Gates strikes Lerena and his mount twice before Lerena responds and then Gates strikes Lerena and Gimme A Storm one more time for good measure.
This was after drifting wide for no reason to take up Lerena's run.
I don't have a dog in the fight, just saying what I see.
Yeah, yeah. Lerena was provoked. Then what?
Rough riding, intimidation, interference happens every day on the racetrack. Lerena himself has been found guilty of this. Dont see other jockeys behaving like a hooligan and lashing out.
His actions afterwards were far worse. If he had taken his punishment like a man, people would have forgiven, forgotten and moved on.
First there was the PR apology and then he had the audacity to appeal a very lenient penalty all in the name of chasing a championship. He played the system to prolong this matter motivated only by greed in his pursuit to be number 1. To add insult he jumped on suspended Zackeys mounts to steal the title in the end.
Champion jockey not for me , more a National disgrace.
Will the HKJC invite the "champ" over, I doubt it. Talent alone is not enough. Sportsmanship counts as well.
The following user(s) said Thank You: CnC 306, durbs
"Rough riding, intimidation, interference happens every day"
Why?
Because it is allowed to happen without serious sanction. Much like the reason road rage happens in SA, poor policing of the laws. Also the reason people believe that they need to take the law into their own hands.
When last was jockey banned for a year or life because they caused injury to another horse or rider with reckless riding?
The current state of affairs in SA racing is that no jockey will sacrifice a length in forward motion for safety. Take out any other runner to win because the result will not be reversed and all you will get as a jockey is a 7 day holiday. Not to mention that every time that happens there are hundreds of punters who lose because of it.
This would not have happened if Gates had kept his mount on the path it was on. Granted, Lerena's reaction was not warranted but how can the reaction be viewed in a vacuum? Is being struck by a crop 3 times worse than being brought down with a career ending injury?
As far as working the system goes, those are the rules and I am sure that however long it takes for Gavin to get a job in Hong Kong it would take Gates much, much longer.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Muhtiman, Pirhobeta, durbs
But is that what comes up when you do press enter?
As stated previously, I don't have a dog in the fight. I have not had Gavin ride any of my horses and have never had a conversation with him. I am however surprised at the level anger towrds him while there is outpouring of understanding for Fortune and Van Niekerk from the same quarter. What about Veal and the punter...wasn't Brandon Morgenrood warned off for 5 years for a similar incident? Didn't Fortune admit to tinkering with the weights in PE? Muzi almost sent a jock over the rails at Greyville, was he suspended for year? Facts and emotions are never the best of friends.
There are currently a few jockeys that would be able to cut it in Hong Kong or internationally based on their skills, work ethic and professionalism;
R Fourie
C Zackey
G Lerena
C Murray
L Mxothwa
I will never condone the action taken by Lerena but can at least make an argument as to why.
