The NHA Inquiry into the jockey protest that led to the abandonment of the Hollywoodbets Durbanville racemeeting on 26 March was partly completed on Monday 19 May, and will continue at a date to be advised.
Nine of the jockeys involved in the protest in support of an interim suspension placed on colleague Grant van Niekerk signed Acknowledgements Of Guilt after being charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.27 in that they, as riders who were carded to participate in scheduled races, and without any lawful justification, were party to an action which resulted in the abandonment of the race meeting.
Each jockey was fined R100 000, of which R50 000 of the total was suspended for a period of five years on condition that they are individually not found guilty of contravening Rule 72.1.27, for the next five years.
Van Niekerk is appealing both his sanction for his ride on All Out For Six in the Big Cap, where a penalty of a suspension from riding in races for a period of 21 days and a fine of R50 000 was imposed, as well as his 90-day suspension from race riding, of which 60 days were suspended for three years, and a fine of R100 000, of which R75 000 was suspended for three years, after his post-race comments that ultimately led to the protest.
