Grant van Niekerk misfortunes have snowballed after a joyous moment of victory in the R5 million Big Cap on All Out For Six on March 16
Grant can Niekerk’s urgent application to the High Court for an interdict has failed as the judge ruled it lacked urgency.
Van Niekerk had launched an urgent application against the National Horseracing Authority in order to have his recent penalties suspended pending review proceedings being brought in the High Court.
The Judge did not dismiss the case, but rather struck it off the roll as he felt it lacked urgency.
Van Niekerk’s suspensions could have been concluded by now had he apologised to the racing public.
He was given a 90 day suspension with 60 of them suspended, but the suspension of the 60 days was subject to him apologising.
He failed to apologise by the stipulated date, so his suspension now ends on December 8.
However, a review of his case still stands before the high court.
His suspension will likely have ended by the time the case is heard, but presumably he will be able to sue the NHA for loss of earnings if he wins the case.
The NHA’s press release about Van Niekerk’s failed bid to get an interdict is shown below:
Following an Appeal heard on 14 August 2025 and the press release below, Jockey van Niekerk subsequently filed papers in the Gauteng South High Court on 25 September 2025. The application sought was to have an interdict granted on an urgent basis to have his penalty held in abeyance, until the potential hearing and finalisation of an intended review application by his legal representatives.
Judge Noko concluded that “the application is fraught with some insurmountable difficulties and is bound to fail”.
The judgment was handed down electronically by Judge MV Noko on 10 October 2025, as follows:
The application is struck off the roll for lack of urgency, with costs including the costs of counsel on Scale B.
Following an Appeal heard on 14 August 2025 and the press release below, Jockey van Niekerk subsequently filed papers in the Gauteng South High Court on 25 September 2025. The application sought was to have an interdict granted on an urgent basis to have his penalty held in abeyance, until the potential hearing and finalisation of an intended review application by his legal representatives.
Judge Noko concluded that “the application is fraught with some insurmountable difficulties and is bound to fail”.
The judgment was handed down electronically by Judge MV Noko on 10 October 2025, as follows:
The application is struck off the roll for lack of urgency, with costs including the costs of counsel on Scale B.
Michael Shackleton
NHA Legal Advisor
A press release following the failed appeal by Van Niekerk to the NHA is shown below:
APPEAL – JOCKEY G VAN NIEKERK
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:
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.
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
Van Niekerk’s public criticism of the NHA followed an inquiry on March 25 in which he was given a 21 day suspension and a R50,000 fine. The press release pertaining to the appeal against the offense which brought the 21 day suspension and the R50,000 fine can be read below:
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that an Appeal was heard at its offices in Johannesburg on Thursday, 24 July 2025.
Background:
At an Inquiry held in Cape Town on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, Jockey G van Niekerk was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7.
The specifics of the charge were that, whilst riding ALL OUT FOR SIX, he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to THE GREY KING and ONE STRIPE when he shifted in at the 150m in Race 8 of the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap run over 1400m at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on 16 March 2025.
Jockey van Niekerk pleaded not guilty and was found guilty of the charge.
After consideration of the mitigating and aggravating factors, including Mr van Niekerk’s recent disciplinary record related to similar contraventions and the status of the race, the Inquiry Board imposed the following penalties:
A suspension from riding in races for a period of twenty-one (21) days.
A fine of R50 000 (fifty thousand rand).
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.
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 24 July 2025.
Jockey van Niekerk’s appeal fee is forfeited.
Media release by NHA on Thursday 24 July 2025
