Picture: JP van der Merwe is reportedly the only one of the protesting jockeys to have signed the Admission Of Guilt notification.
With dramatic irony, the jockeys involved in the industrial action at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 26th of March have each reportedly been hit with a R100,000 fine by the NHA, with R50,000 of it suspended for a period of five years.
The strike was in support of Grant van Niekerk being handed an interim suspension after voicing his disapproval of the severity of NHA fines and suspensions, among other utterings, during a winner’s interview.
The jockeys have reportedly all received an Admission Of Guilt notification, but it is believed that at present only JP van der Merwe has signed it.
The Admission Of Guilt begins by explaining that they were in contravention of Rule 72.1.27, which states: without lawful reason be a party to or incite any other PERSON or individual to perform
any act, or by omission create a circumstance which does or might lead to the
abandonment, postponement or interruption of any RACE or RACEMEETING;
The Sporting Post reported that those jockeys who do not sign the Admission of Guilt face respective inquiries in May.
Van Niekerk was subsequently given a 90-day suspension from race riding, of which 60 days were suspended for three years, subject to the following conditions:
1.1 Public Apology: Jockey van Niekerk must issue a public apology to the NHA via the media within ten days of this ruling.
1.2 Jockey van Niekerk must not be convicted of Rule 72.1.26 during the three-year suspension period.
1.3 The nine days suspension already served will be taken into account in determining the dates of the remainder of the 30 days’ suspension. Accordingly, the 30-day suspension could be served from 27 March 2025 to 26 April 2025, subject to his right of appeal.
Fine
2.1 A fine of R100,000, of which R75,000 is suspended for three years, on condition that Jockey van Niekerk is not convicted of another Rule 72.1.26 violation during this period.
Van Niekerk was given the Right of Appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed.
The Sporting Post understand he may be appealing.
