THE STARTER REPORTED:
a) GIMME A STORM (G Lerena) jumped awkwardly leaving the stalls.
THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED:
a) At approximately the 1000m, HONG KONG LUCKY (L Nhlapo) took an awkward stride and shifted out.
b) An inquiry will be opened into an incident involving Jockey J Gates (BLURRED VISION) and Jockey G Lerena (GIMME A STORM) at approximately the 150m.
c) GREAT NOTION (R Munger), the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis.
Trainer M F de Kock advised (MduP).
After watching the replay on speed 0,25 on my Nokia with black and white screen (commentary muted):
Jason felt lonely during the race and moves toward Gavin for company. Cramping Gavin's space. He had the whole race track but he wanted Gavin's company badly............
Jason transfers his whip to his left hand.
It seems that Jason smack either Gavin or his pony or both, with his whip first. (1 minute and 28 seconds in the race)
It takes a second for Gavin to realise what just happened, and in a split second decided to beat the living daylight out of Gates.
I'm not a stipe. I'm a punter.
Whatever the punishment for Gavin will be, he will come back stronger.
From a punting prospective, I like both of these jockeys.
Plenty of adrenaline, testosterone and who knows what other shit in this sport...............
Muzi is just happy that he's not involved this time 😂
So werk hy maar.............
Last edit: 4 months 1 week ago by manwatweet.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Magi, Pirhobeta
In 2022 one of the best jocks in the world at the moment,Christophe Soumillon , had a rush of blood to the head / saw red mist / lost the plot (call it what you want ! )
He elbowed Rossa Ryan off his mount and got a 60 day ban. His biggest loss though was losing the job with Aga Khan.
A 6 month ban for Gavin would be ludicrous as would 7 days.
IMVHO 30 days would be more than adequate and everybody can get on with life.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Muhtiman, Pirhobeta
......besides the possibility of there being a build up of other similar infractions....local jockeys have always had a certain pecking order based on seniority and even before the jockey academy days the younger new jocks had to "respect" their more senior riders and many of them would shine boots, carry bags, saddles for the seniors and would never try step out of line or challenge this hierarchy.....maybe Gates is in the opinion that this is a load of balls and is challenging the "system"......foolish of Gavin to have reacted as he did... but some thing could have been said or "shouted" in the seconds of this infraction that caused this response.....we will never know as Gavin will plead guilty offer no excuses and do his time.....
The following user(s) said Thank You: thisotherdude
The "borrowing" of the whip story was funny...the others not so...
In any supposed profession, as @cnc alluded, behaviour of such kind would be a dismissible offence and likely a permanent character stain even when seeking new employment...
Retaliation is often more severe than (perceived?) provocation because you are playing judge and executioner...remember the Beckham sending off at the World Cup...his kicking out, after being fouled, got him sent off...but that did not happen to the perpetrator of the foul...
Lerena’s tantrum will be costlyPUBLISHED: January 27, 2025 David Thiselton Gavin Lerena’s moment of madness at Turffontein on Sunday had his fans scrambling to check whether there had been a jockey change before the race, because this was not in keeping with his known high standards of professionalism. However, Jason Gates might also be in hot water, because some fans are agreeing after viewing online video available that Lerena’s sudden loss of temper was in reaction to being whipped by Gates. Lerena’s good previous record and the above mitigating circumstance might help in the sentencing. However, it cannot detract from the seriousness of the incident in which he stood up in the saddle either in retaliation or frustration 150m from the line and whipped Gates on the back with full force three times. The consequences could have been catastrophic i.e. Gates could have flinched and consequently fallen off. In predicting the penalty that he will receive, one has to consider whether the action was right or wrong, the penalty for such an action if it was wrong, and then the jockey’s previous record. Lerena’s actions were seriously wrong, even if the mitigating circumstance makes it more understandable. The NHA are viewing it in such a serious light they did not allow an “acknowledgement of guilt” hearing, and instead it is going straight to an inquiry. The NHA’s reaction is understandable because South Africa, as a member of the International Federation Of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), are signatories of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering IIABRW) and the incident has made international news. The video has gone viral as far away as Australia and New Zealand. As South Africa are a Part I country in the IFHA, the world will be watching the inquiry process. Looking at an international incident which was perhaps even more serious because the jockey fell off i.e. Christophe Soumillon elbowing Rossa Ryan off his horse in France, Soumillon was given a two month suspension. Locally, Muzi Yeni took his hand off his left rein and placed it on Lyle Hewitson’s arm in a race at Hollywoodbets Greyville and was given a three month suspension. Therefore, Lerena is predicted to be given a three month suspension with perhaps half of it suspended for five years owing to his good previous record. If Gates is also found guilty of whipping Lerena it might also earn a suspension. The incident happened in the second race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m. Lerena was on the favourite Gimme A Storm, who had been backed from 28/10 into 18/10, while Gates was on the biggest outsider in the seven horse field, the 66/1 shot Blurred Vision. It did not pan out well for Gimme A Storm from draw three as he fly-jumped slightly and was then headstrong early before being caught one wide without adequate cover as Blurred Vision was only about half-a-width wide between the first and third horses. Gimme A Storm turned for home alongside Blurred Vision and as the second favourite Green Street had stolen a march down the inside with the third favourite Great Notion chasing him, the feeling was that Gimme A Storm would have to accelerate past Blurred Vision and then have the space to use his action to its fullest to chase the leaders. However, Blurred Vision held his line and Gimme A Storm could not shake him off, meaning, with what looked like a tendency to want to hang inward, he could not get into full stride. There were also one or two bumps between the pair and Gates had changed the whip to his left hand, while Lerena had changed his whip to his right hand. This meant their whipping actions were restricted and the whip stroke itself would have been at risk of striking the other embattled horse and jockey. Just before Lerena loses his temper, there appears to be a sideways strike from Gates. It was not initially evident at normal speed, but in the slow motion it becomes evident and then switching it back to normal motion it becomes clear that one of Gates’ whipping strokes is directed with a sideways arc onto Lerena, who reportedly returned with a welt on his arm. That the strike was hard and deliberately directed is lent credence by the fact that Lerena’s action happened immediately afterwards and appears to be an act of retaliation. However, the above comes from just looking at a YouTube video, whilst the pending inquiry will have full use of the patrol film from all angles and both jockeys will also be able to give their account of the unsavoury incident.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dave Scott, Contest, Dazza
Lest we forget the incident between Muzi and Lyle Hewitson a few years ago at Greyville if memory serves, where Muzi moved right next to Lyle's mount and again if memory serves, bumped him or something to that effect. Muzi got a holiday for that incident and i think the two of them were in a title race at the time. A poster alluded here to the many examples of dangerous riding and made mention of the flailing arms when driving to the line in tight quarters. Mention was also made of what transpires in the pull up area. A couple of meetings back Strydom was riding a horse and won fairly comfortably and to be nice let's say he went easy on the horse at the finish line. Directly behind him was Gavin and another horse fighting it out for the minors. Gavin had to take some quick evasive action to prevent his mount from going into the back of Strydom's horse. Nico mentioned this in his call and in the head on replay it was so clear to see. A week or so later the situation reversed, and Gavin won easily and went easy on his mount with Strydom behind him nearly going into the back of that horse. Now i read elsewhere that there's no love lost between these two. I will leave it there.
Now if i can see these infractions sitting in my home watching on my laptop without any fancy technology that i'm sure the Stipes have access to and could easily go back to and zoom or enhance and slow mo etc... etc...it makes me wonder what these guys are really doing in their airconditioned boardroom on race days??
Anyways, i digress, going back to this incident, all i can say is sies, what a disgrace. Although comparing the many heated situations I've been in with colleagues in my various jobs over the years, yet never coming to blows, it might not hold the same weight as horse racing is a different ball game and the stakes are much higher, pun intended!
Whichever side of the fence you're sitting on I'm afraid there's no justification for such thuggish behavior, finish and klaar! Throw the book at him.
IMVHO the current style of racing we are witnessing from most racecourses around the country doesn't appeal as compared to that of the past.
Using up the whole width of the track even if the horse is drawn well is a common occurence nowadays.
Back in the day if you had a bad draw it was just it, try to overcome or sit and wait .
No shooting to the outside rail.
Compare how the jockeys of yesteryear rode................
