Graeme Hawkins

taken from sportingpost.co.za


Open Letter to Graeme Hawkins from a Past Chairman of the National Horseracing Authority
Dear Graeme,

You have single-handedly degraded the reputation of our Premier horse race to its lowest level in its illustrious history.

You override the principles of Grade 1 racing by inviting one and two time winners and horses with low merit ratings in favour of horses that have higher ratings, current form and are clearly superior In terms of the accepted merit rating system.

You ignore the advice of the professional handicappers whom you openly slate and whose advice you sorely fail to follow. They should surely have the final say in the selection of the field.

You clearly favour certain trainers and prejudice the racing public, sponsors and Gold Circle by allowing this controversy to continue.

In light of the afore mentioned, I feel it incumbent upon me to challenge the Grade 1 status of the Durban July. As far as I am aware, this is the only Grade 1 race where the racing operator selects the field. Clearly the current demeaning of the race to Carnival status cannot go unchallenged.

Regards
Larry Nestadt

I wonder if GH will respond as these expressions are coming from many highly respectable people involved for years in the game of KINGS...........................

do you think larry will write what he write if he dont own rock cocktail? he must re member that when he is chairmain of nha these condition is all ready there. so to me is sour grapes. if rock cocktail get in some one else is upset

Flash Harry Wrote:

---

> do you think larry will write what he write if he
> dont own rock cocktail? he must re member that
> when he is chairmain of nha these condition is all
> ready there. so to me is sour grapes. if rock
> cocktail get in some one else is upset


aye harry he wouldnae give a flying fuck

Last year Master Plan did not make it in and then beat them all in the Champions Cup......

There is no way that Tellina should or could have been left out, my personal feeling is that having one time winners in the July does not do the race any justice.....

Can Hawkins and Co be trusted that they will be un-biased and fair when finalising the field...which ever way you look at it RC should have got a run.

I agree with Flash.....what did .Larry Nestadt do for racing as the chairman of the NHA -they didn't enforce their own rules in those days either!!

GAUTENG GUINEAS

Year


Horse


Weight


Trainer


Jockey


Owner

2006


HUNTING TOWER


57.0


Laird C


Marcus A


Mrs B D Oppenheimer

2007


BIARRITZ


57.0


Gray S


Smith B


Messrs K Miedema and St John D Gray

2008


IMBONGI


57.0


De Kock MF


Delpech A


Messrs MD Fleischer, OV Leibbrandt, BS Clements Mr RS &
Mrs BA Napier and Summerhill Stud Syndicate (Nom: Mr
M J B Goss)

2009


ORACY


57.0


Laird C


Marcus A


Mrs I Jooste and Mr M J Jooste

2010


PIERRE JOURDAN


57.0


Alexander GM


David D


Messrs E Baisero and G M Alexander

2011


LINK MAN


58.0


De Kock MF


Delpech A


Messrs L M Nestadt, G L Blank and G Z Burg

2012


GOLDEN CHATEAU (Aus)


58.0


De Kock MF


David D


Messrs I F M van Schalkwyk, G L Blank and I V Shore

2013


TELLINA


58.0


Woodruff GV


Fradd R


Messrs Terry Young & G V Woodruff




Some really top horses win the GG so how he could be left out is amazing when you consider that he almost won the second leg too!!

Flash, it seems you are missing the point here. There are many people besides the owners and connections who feel the July has been done a disservice.

Even though the panel makes the decision there still needs to accountability. The panel has a duty to select the best field because it is in the interests of the sport. That is the overiding principle here and it should supersede whatever stupid rule is in place about the panel having the final say.

I would have thought that as a racing fan you would have the best interest of the sport at heart but it seems you have the same attitude as whoever decided the final field.

To say it is simply sour grapes is an insult to the game and Hibs I don't know Larry from a bar of soap but before you pass judgement of what he would do if he wasn't the owner ask your yourself how you would feel if you were in his shoes. Furthermore, do you even know the man? If not I would say its best to not make any assumptions regarding his opinions.

The panel or whoever had the final say have effed up big time and if Graeme has been quoted correctly in the press he should come out with a statement apologising or he should resign, because the way it has been handled has been a disgrace.

What ever people say /do hawkins will land on his feet and continue to earn multiple paychecks from our beloved sport

so why single out Graeme Hawkins when the panel made the selection....

Being the transparent guy that he is i'm sure he will provide a suitable explanation regarding the final field sooner rather than later.Watch this space.