Grant van Niekerk wins the Gold Rush on the Vaughan Marshall-trained All Out For Six, but the ride led to a suspension and his woes snowballed from there (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Grant van Niekerk saga started with a riding offense when winning The Gold Rush, but he was then given a separate charge when publicly making some disparaging remarks about the outcome of the inquiry into the riding offense. It has now snowballed further, because his appeal against the outcome of the inquiry into the latter offense has failed and led to further costs. There is also the possibility of a 90-days-suspension-with-60-of-the-days-suspended becoming a full 90 days if he does not issue issue a public apology to the NHA via the media on or before September 15.
A press release about the outcome of the appeal is shown below:
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that an Appeal was heard at its offices in Johannesburg on Thursday, 14 August 2025.
Background:
At an Inquiry held in Johannesburg on Friday, 4 July 2025, Jockey G van Niekerk was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.26.
The particulars being that Jockey van Niekerk behaved or conducted himself in such a manner which has or might have the effect of discrediting horse racing or which does or might bring into disrepute the good name of the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY, a RACING OPERATOR, any training establishment, the ACADEMY, the STEWARDS or members of any committee of the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY or any INQUIRY BOARD, APPEAL BOARD, INQUIRY REVIEW BOARD, the LICENSING BOARD, any OBJECTION BOARD or any RACING OPERATOR or any official of the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY or RACING OPERATOR.
The charge originated from comments made by Jockey van Niekerk during a post-race interview following the running of Race 2 at Hollywoodbets Durbanville Racecourse on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.
Jockey van Niekerk pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.
After considering the nature of the offence, the rule violation, Jockey van Niekerk’s personal circumstances, and the interests of the racing community, the Inquiry Board ruled as follows:
A 90-day suspension from race riding, of which 60 days are suspended for three years, subject to the following conditions:
- Public Apology: Jockey van Niekerk must issue a public apology to the NHA via the media within ten days of this ruling.
- Jockey van Niekerk must not be convicted of Rule 72.1.26 during the three-year suspension period.
- 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.
A fine of R100 000 was also imposed, of which R75 000 was suspended for three years, on condition that Jockey van Niekerk is not convicted of another Rule 72.1.26 violation during this period.
Jockey van Niekerk was given the right to appeal the finding and the penalty imposed, which he exercised.
Appeal Board Ruling:
The Appeal Board issued the following order:
- The appeal is dismissed and the decision of the Inquiry Board is confirmed.
- The appellant (Jockey G van Niekerk) is ordered to pay an amount limited to R50 000 towards the NHA’s legal costs of the day.
- The appellant (Jockey G van Niekerk) is further ordered to pay the costs of the Appeal Board which convened on 14 August 2025.
- Jockey van Niekerk’s appeal fee is forfeited.
For the sake of clarity, the NHA wishes to indicate that the Inquiry Board considered the possibility that 9 days of the 30-day suspension was already served by Jockey van Niekerk but made it clear that it was subject to Jockey van Niekerk indicating in the Inquiry that he does not intend to appeal, in which case the suspension does not come into effect. Jockey van Niekerk failed to make such indication therefore the 30-day suspension period must be served.
Suspension dates 10 September – 9 October 2025 (both days inclusive)
Further, as per the Inquiry Board ruling which was upheld in this instance, the reduction of the 90-day suspension to 30 days is contingent on several factors, including that Jockey van Niekerk must issue a public apology to the NHA via the media within ten days of this ruling (by 15 September 2025).
Failure to do so will trigger the full 90-day suspension being enforced after ten days of this ruling.
A D Hyde
Racing Control Executive
