Stan Ellley
The weather enforced switch of the Super Saturday racemeeting from 25 July to 1 August has had racing fans questioning implications of the impact of holding the features in the new season.
Of plenty of interest was the pending retirement of Cape trainer Stan Elley, and the fact that he would effectively be unlicenced on 1 August – the first day of the new season.
We approached the National Horseracing Authority of SA’s Acting CEO Colin Hall for clarity.
How will the move of Champions Day to 1 August impact on the annual statistics?
“The statistics will be calculated to the 31 July 2015. This means that the Gold Cup and the other races that will now be run on 1 August will count towards the 2015/2016 season.”
How will the change of date impact on the official conditions of the races, in terms of age (the three 2yo races) and weight-for-age?
“The races will remain unchanged. It is just too difficult to make any changes.”
Will Stan Elley be permitted to saddle his runners?
“Stan Elley has been granted a temporary trainer’s licence in terms of rule 7.13.2. The licence is for a period of one week,” said Hall.
