In a further sequel to the jockey protest on 26 March 2025 that led to the abandonment of the racemeeting of that afternoon, Richard Fourie and Oswald Noach have joined their colleague JP van der Merwe and have signed respective individual admissions of guilt.
Richard Fourie – signed an AOG (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Following the action of 26 March, the jockeys present at the protest in support of an interim suspension placed on Grant van Niekerk were 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 a protest action which resulted in the abandonment of the race meeting.
On Tuesday 13 May 2025 Fourie and Noach signed an Admission of Guilt and thus received a monetary fine of R100 000 each. 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.
The Sporting Post learns that an Inquiry has been set down for Monday 19 May, where the balance of the jockeys charged in the protest action will face the music.
We believe that the Acknowledgement Of Guilt option of the R100 000 fine, with a 50% suspension and the five year condition, was offered by the NHA to all the jockeys. JP van der Merwe stepped forward late last month.
The matter is now in the hands of the Inquiry Board, and it remains to be seen whether some of the other jockeys involved step up and go the AOG route, or face the Inquiry Board, where the penalty could well vary.
