Sporting Post Follow Up Report On Kimberly Fiasco

The Racing Control Executive of the National Horseracing Authority of South Africa, Mr David Mcgillivray, has advised that the body are investigating, following allegations of horse cruelty made against a Kimberley trainer on Sunday.

Our enquiries were directed to the NHA , Phumelela and the Racing Association, and were prompted by a thread on the African Betting Clan under the heading, ‘WHAT A DISGRACE – FLAMINGO PARK TOP TRAINER JAAP VISSER’.

Horseracing has been under the spotlight in recent weeks, with the focus on horses’ life after racing. The horse which was the subject of the current allegations appears to have still been in training.

The subject was initiated by a poster ‘Redfeather’ on the ABC on Sunday, and which incorporated a short video of a horse in obvious discomfort.

The post has evoked outrage and heated debate and attracted over 8000 views and run to 11 pages. This makes it one of the most discussed issues ever on the popular forum.

While no official confirmation has been received, the horse in the video is allegedly a 9yo gelding named Golden Occassion.

He was bred by Summerhill Stud and trained initially by Michael Roberts in KZN.

He has had 109 runs for 7 Wins and 36 places, with earnings of R 386 445.

He last ran at Flamingo Park for Jaap Visser on 19 November 2012, when finishing unplaced.

Trainer Jaap Visser was crowned Champion Trainer at the RA Northern Cape Awards held last month in Kimberley.

Racing Association CEO Larry Wainstein was the first to deliver an official comment following our despatch late on Sunday evening.

He confirmed that he had immediately spoken to the Veterinary Surgeon dealing with the horse and was informed that the gelding had been treated. The Vet had seen him on Wednesday last week.

He apparently informed Mr Wainstein that it appeared that ‘people don’t have the full facts.’

According to reports, the horse was euthenased on Sunday.

The Racing Association is the biggest owner representative body in South Africa.

The Racing Operator, under whose jurisdiction the Northern Cape racing centre falls, Phumelela, have not released any press communication.

Talking about the RA this is what Mrs Miller wrote on my facebook


I am busy resigning as an RA member and I've already got the support of 9 other RA members. They are also busy resigning. As from today I'm not using our vet anymore. I spoke to the vet, Dr Joe van Heerden, on Saturday morning and asked him to do something about this horse. He told me that the other vet, Piet Swart, saw this horse on Wednesday afternoon. Since then they had no contact with the Vissers. The Vissers don't use the local vet, but it was an emergency and they had to pay the account while the vet was there. Piet Swart had no idea what the condition of this horse was on Saturday and Sunday. On ABC the Vissers made a statement that they were in contact with the vet all the time, they even gave the phone no. They had no contact with the vet since Wednesday afternoon. I had owners visiting over the weekend, they saw the horse and they will give a statement to tell in what poor condition that horse was. Trainer Vernon Rugg and Corrie Lensley will also state in what condition the horse was.

Iv never rated the current RA, direction/ leadership

I did not renew my RA membership this year for the first time since I joined
I did send reason why and did not get a reply

I didn't renew after the concerned owners debacle.

boys why is the ra now in trouble for these story? every one has right to join or no join if you are the owner but really for me i no under stand why people now re sign from ra to me it is the nhra problem?

Flash Harry Wrote:

---

> boys why is the ra now in trouble for these story?
> every one has right to join or no join if you are
> the owner but really for me i no under stand why
> people now re sign from ra to me it is the nhra
> problem?


I really don't think the RA can be blamed here - This was not their problem but the NHRAs- It seems the RA acted before the NHRA and may have alerted them to the problem - The RA cannot send a stipe to Kimberley full time that is the job of the NHRA and they are to blame as they were not there.

100% mr h i no now what is happen for people to re sign maybe hibby can say i no have face book

I did not leave due to the Kimberley story, long before this thread.

Please, guys, listen to Flash here. The RA is our backbone at present. I cannot begin to tell you the huge efforts made by that whole team. I often dissagree entirely with Larry on certain issues, but imho he puts in many many hours into this game.

In the first place, the RA got up and did something on this issue, which isnt even a RA issue - Larry did this because he really cares about horses and about the Industry.

Thanks, Larry, for always doing just that !

The RA did absolutely nothing to sort out the attack in Kenya, never saw to in that Bob Mugabe wasn't returned to power AND for the last 4 months Ive been complaining to them about the noisy bunch that live in the next door complex, which has also fallen on deaf ears, as for their contribution to halt Global Warming..lets not even go there, disappointed to say the least...

This rightly, is a NHA issue but should owners not be just as "concerned" as they were during the revolt.Is the new different from the old?
The concern was that the RA was not independent enough from the operator and therefore not adequately fighting for stakes and other owner interests.
Is the RA not just as much in the pocket of "P" as it ever was,judging by the joint efforts of marketing "P" ventures like sales of assets in PE and Milnerton?
Just asking?
Is it not just different players playing the same game?

Maybe a discussion point for a new thread rather than here?