Racing cracks whip at jockeys

MISUSE: RIDING CROP BECOMES A HOT ISSUE

- Mike Moon

S'manga Khumalo hit with hefty fine for excessive use in Durban July.

The issue of riding crops or whips has the racing world in a lather - for the umpteenth time in recent years.

Popular jockey S'manga Khumalo got a smack from the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) this week for exceeding a limit on crop strikes to a horse. The former national champion was handed a 14-day suspension from riding and a R54 500 fine.

This is a heavy penalty and stems partly from his record as a serial offender with the whip.

This wasn't in any old race, it was in the Hollywoodbets Durban July at Greyville a fortnight earlier. Khumalo finished a close runner-up on the colt Cousin Casey -just 0.30 lengths behind winner Oriental Charm.

After watching the race videos, an inquiry board concluded that Khumalo had used his whip 15 times on Cousin Casey - three more strikes than the maximum of 12 allowed.

A press release said the crop misuse "was not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race".

Khumalo pleaded guilty but was given the right of appeal against the sentence.

It's worth noting that Oriental Charm's winning jockey, JP van der Merwe, got a 16-day suspension soon after the finish for allowing his horse to shift inwards and hamper See It Again, who ended up fifth.