Michael Clover writes in Racing Post
Rubber bullets were fired by police at demonstrating stable staff at Johannesburg's biggest raceday of the year.
The grooms used the occasion to stage a protest for better wages and it soon turned ugly. The police were called in, and once bullets were fired the protestors quickly dispersed, but the first race had to be put back two hours.
The protest served as a stark reminder that the dissatisfaction which resulted in a grooms' strike in June last year has not been sorted out to the satisfaction of Johannesburg-based stable staff.
On that occasion Mike de Kock spoke of being confronted by "300 weapon-wielding, threatening grooms" and added: "It has left me questioning my own loyalty to South African racing."
He has since decided to open a satellite yard in Australia that will be operated by his son and assistant Matthew.
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