While details are sketchy at this stage, a wrangle over jockey association loyalties has cast a cloud over the composition of the South African team to take on an overseas invitation side in this weekend’s International Jockeys’ Challenge, which will be held at Fairview on Friday and Turffontein on Saturday.
Protocols and process are said to be at the root of the dispute that has threatened to see a prominent Cape jockey ejected from the local team, apparently by virtue of the fact that he is not a member of the Gauteng-based Jockey Association of South Africa (JASA).
When contacted late on Wednesday evening, JASA Chairman Tex Lerena was not in a position to comment but referred us back to the affected jockey.
The Sporting Post is aware that an application for the awarding of official national colours was submitted to SASCOC by the SA Equestrian Federation, of which JASA is believed to be a member.
The name of PE champion jockey Greg Cheyne, who was selected for the original team, is not on the list of team members on the official application.
Cheyne is a member of the recently formed Coastal Jockeys Association.
Comment will be sought early on Thursday morning from the Racing Association, which hosts and organises the event, and further news will follow.
