On a drama-filled afternoon of racing at the Vaal on Thursday, three riders were injured and a communications breakdown between the Stipes and the Starter saw a race started without the public getting a chance to restructure their bets.
In the second race, Kabelo Matsunyane was dislodged from the 50-1 shot Villa Semaya.
Kabelo Matsunyane is concussed (photo: SAJA)
He was attended to by the Course Medical staff which precluded him from weighing in. The Board, acting in terms of Rule 66.2, deemed his weight to be correct. Matsunyane was stood down by the Course Medical Officer with suspected concussion as a precautionary measure. He will not ride today.
The Board has also adjourned to review the incident that led to Matsunyane being dislodged from his mount in the pull-up area.
In the sixth race, Cole Dicken was to suffer the most serious injury of the day.
Approaching the 200m, Dicken was dislodged from Rosy Lemon, which stumbled and fell for no apparent reason.
Cole Dicken – could be sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks (Pic – JC Photos)
In view of this incident, the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine the filly. Dicken was attended to by the medical staff on course, transported to the medical centre for further assessment and thereafter dispatched to hospital for x-rays and further examination. He suffered a fractured left clavicle and will be out of action for at least six weeks.
The course manager inspected the area where Rosy Lemon stumbled at the request of the Stipendiary Board and found nothing untoward with the track.
In the ninth race in the approach to the 100m, Apprentice Siyanda Sosibo was dislodged from Rock On Captain, after his mount stumbled and fell for no apparent reason.
Siyanda Sosibo – lucky escape (Pic – JC Photos)
In view of this incident, the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine this filly. Sosibo was attended to by the medical staff on course, transported to the medical centre for further assessment and treated for an injury to his right arm.
He was found to have sustained a laceration on the right elbow and received stitches.
The course manager, a member of the Stipendiary Board and the Veterinary Surgeon inspected this area and found nothing untoward with the track. When taking this incident into consideration, as well as the incident in Race 6 regarding Rosy Lemon, the Board was of the opinion that these were unfortunate, unrelated incidents
In a communications failure in the fifth race, the boardroom attempted to contact the starter to allow the public a short delay after the late scratching of Turnthebeataround (Nathan Klink), who had refused to load.
However, the loading of the large field had already been completed and the starter did not hear the communication from the stipes. A fair start was deemed to have been effected and the stipes were of the opinion that no horse or rider had been prejudiced in any manner. No reference is made to the punting public.
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