Mike De threatens to campaign actively
The resignation of Dave McGillivray, the National Horseracing’s Authority’s Racing Control Executive, is a huge loss to South African racing. Dave was recently described by the Sporting Post as “an innovative breath of fresh air (who introduced) numerous controls and added impetus to service delivery in various areas at the NHA,” writes Mike De Kock.
Here’s one individual our industry could not afford to lose, yet we have.
Dave will be leaving the NHA at the end of January 2015 and it’s just unacceptable! I can’t believe that the NHA allowed this to happen and I wonder whether we will be informed of the reasons that prompted his decision.
NHA Executive Racing Control, Dave McGillivray
Dave brought stability and sensibility to his position – I’m afraid we’re going to be left in the hands of mostly inexperienced officials wielding plenty of power with no accountability.
Many owners and trainers in South Africa have suffered losses and sometimes even humiliation at the hands of inexperienced Stipes and matters could get worse. Hopes for level-headedness and consistency in the ranks of racing’s police have been dashed indefinitely by McGillivray’s departure.
Following what I believe was a glaringly erroneous decision involving our runner Akii Bua at Turffontein last week (one of several arguably poor calls made around the country against any number of racing stables this year), it is time to voice opposition against the NHA’s Objection Rule.
There has been widespread condemnation by many an astute judge and I will be campaigning actively for changes to be made to this Rule so that the connections of runners involved in objections are allowed to appeal against questionable rulings made by Stipendiary Boards.
In the past we had a right to such appeals, but some years ago the rule was changed to exclude this privilege, possibly to prevent too many eggs in the face, too many times.
www.mikedekockracing.com
