S’Manga Khumalo has been at the centre of two controversies in the last two Highveld meetings. There is an inquiry into an incident on Saturday in which the horse Back In Business bolted with him aboard before being withdrawn by the veterinarian surgeon. The inquiry followed an official complaint by the connections. Today Khumalo was standing out of the saddle when the starter let the field go for the first race. Unconfirmed reports had it that he was given time to get in the saddle after saying he was not ready and he gave no subsequent command to wait. (Picture: Gold Circle)
There was widespread astonishment when She’s A Klawer was not declared a non-runner after the running of the first race at the Vaal Classic track today (Thursday) as she jumped without the rider, S’Manga Khumalo, in the irons.
However, the stipendiary stewards might just have been applying the rules.
TAB4Racing is refunding all Win, Place, Swinger, Exacta, Trifecta and Quartet bets on Number 4 She’s A Klawer in Race 1 at the Vaal today in which she was included.
Jockey S’manga Khumalo, who was carded to ride She’s A Klawer, was not in the saddle when the start was effected. The National Horseracing Authority stipendiary stewards declared She’s A Klawer a runner, but in light of the circumstances TAB4Racing is refunding Win and Place bets on the filly, as well as the relevant portions of Exacta, Swinger, Trifecta and Quartet wagers in which she was included.
TAB4Racing accountholders will be automatically refunded. Retail customers wishing to claim refunds must submit a claim form at a TAB outlet if they have discarded their tickets.
Customers needing assistance can call Customer Care on 0861 444 822.
Meanwhile, Hollywoodbets decided to scratch the horse and at the same time have no deduction on the winner, meaning losing punters were refunded while those who had benefited from the official stipendiary decision, by being paid out without any deductions, were not affected.
Hollywoodbets has made a decision to treat She’s A Klawer as a scratching from race 1 at the Vaal today, after the Chris Jonker filly had literally no chance of competing with her jockey out of the saddle and a handler holding her bridle as the gates were sprung.
A spokesman for Hollywoodbets said that they felt that it was only fair and sporting to treat the filly as a non-runner without deductions, thereby ensuring a full refund for all of their customers who wagered wins, multiples, places, and other open bets. Notwithstanding the starting price of the horse at 5/1, which would have resulted in a 20% deduction on a normal scratching , the scratching with no deduction was done so as to not prejudice any other winners.