Fairview press release

PRESS RELEASE


The National Horseracing Authority confirms the unfortunate events that took place at Fairview Racecourse this morning, Thursday, 17 September 2020, involving the horses in the care of Trainer Yvette Bremner.

Members of the NHA’s Senior Management that travelled to the Eastern Cape, attended the stable complex at Fairview Racecourse and co-ordinated a meeting this afternoon to decide if tomorrow’s race meeting scheduled to take place at Fairview Racecourse should proceed.

The stake holders that were present at the meeting that took place at 15:30 included NHA Executives, five Trainers, a Rider representative, Phumelela Management representatives, three high-ranking members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) and a local security representative.

While the unpredictability of the situation was acknowledged and carefully considered, it was recognised that all staff members employed by the Trainers at Fairview Racecourse had returned to their duties this afternoon.

Further, the SAPS representatives provided an undertaking to bolster their ranks in attendance at tomorrow’s race meeting at the Eastern Cape Racecourse.

While the volatility of the situation is still a concern, the unanimous decision was taken to proceed with tomorrow’s scheduled race meeting at Fairview.

The safety of all participants, stake holders and staff members as well as the welfare of the horses are of paramount importance and, as such, if there is even the slightest risk to these basic requirements, the decision to race tomorrow, will be reviewed.

I am sure many sides to a story but the bottom line is we must never give into threats and terrorism.

Don’t forget the same fuckers involved in the protest, will be leading the horses around at Fairview on Friday

As I said, something not right here.

“ Following on from the horrific attacks that took place at Fairview Race Course on Thursday morning, leading owner, Hedley McGrath has issued a press release.

Mr McGrath states that he would like to set certain facts straight following many misleading statements on social media from various training yards.

He writes:

To all of the detractors who think they are clever by spreading false stories about what happened at Fairview this morning, make sure you check your facts and tell the truth!

I would like the owners of ALL of the race horses that are currently stabled at Fairview with the various trainers to know that it was not just Yvette Bremner’s grooms who took part in the riots this morning. It was also the grooms from the other yards who were part of the attacking and rioting.

The same grooms who are employed to look after their horses were part of this riot! They need to ask themselves how safe are their horses really?

There are currently many false stories being spread, and I am not sure what the purpose of this cover up is, but this morning was one of the most barbaric, savage attacks I have ever seen and pray to God we never see again!

The injuries sustained by these horses was not simply from them being let out of their stables and chased!

www.sportingpost.co.za

Were the horses hacked or weren't they?

You have got to ask yourself why the story is being managed.

Racing Post

Riot police were forced to intervene after a labour dispute at South Africa's Fairview racecourse on Thursday morning ended in tragic circumstances when a horse died.

The Public Order Police had to be called to restore order at the Port Elizabeth venue after a protest, which is believed to have been initiated by grooms formerly employed by trainer Yvette Bremner, turned violent.

Several horses in Bremner's care were let out of their stables and chased out of the complex by the crowd. One of her charges, Mark The Doorman, died after running into a fence and breaking his neck according to a vet on site.

Two other horses were reported to have suffered injuries to their shoulders in the melee but are expected to make full recoveries.

More than 20 horses are said to have been set loose in the protest with all of the remainder safely back in their stables by the time the vets were treating those who had suffered injuries.

Phumelela, the horseracing and totaliser operator responsible for running Fairview, issued a statement saying it was liaising with the Department of Labour in a bid to resolve the dispute between Bremner and her former employees. It said it had also called in additional private security personnel to assist the police in protecting people and horses in the complex.

The protest, which is said to have been attended by up to 200 people, started around 6am local time with the police reported to have restored order and the group dispersed before 9am.

Phumelela, who said they intend to liaise with police to ensure that all those responsible for the unrest are prosecuted, continue to monitor the situation closely with a decision expected to be made as to whether Friday's meeting at the track can go ahead.

Spoke to my trainer yesterday- a mob armed with sticks, pangas etc seemingly led by the disgruntled ex Bremner grooms, but included other grooms as well as unknown hangers on, attacked the Bremner yard, broke open the barn, and chased the horses out. To my mind it is then irrelevant whether horses were actually struck / stabbed or not, as we all know that a horse that is panicked is a danger to life and limb, and all the injuries are a direct consequence of the mob action and hence the perpetrators are guilty.
No grooms worked yesterday morning- the brave trainers and their assistants fed and watered the horses and did so while at risk of the mob extending their attack to the other yards, which fortunately did not happen.
Police and private security then restored order and secured the premises. Most grooms pitched up for work at other yards in the afternoon.
The grooms all live in the same informal settlement area, and sadly intimidation is rife whenever a disgruntled group wants to embark on action.
My condolences to all connections of injured and killed horses.

Peterd do you have any insight into the Grooms accommodation at Fairview? Is there any accommodation and if not, why not?

Over the Air wrote: Were the horses hacked or weren't they?

You have got to ask yourself why the story is being managed.

.......judging from some of the pics one or 2 appeared to have been badly cleaved with a panga....others with serious lacerations seem to have hurt themselves by being spooked and ran into fences or other structures....then several are seen limping and walking very gingerly and have either been stuck on the legs and gone seriously lame or have badly knocked themselves trying to flee the mayhem.....those people that are trying to downplay this serious situation are dangerously trying to shift the blame squarely on the Bremmer yard....and as Headley has said in the SP grooms from other yards were also involved in the protest and they must be held accountable for what ensued there after....:huh:

What happened in PE is reprehensible! There is no doubt about that, but whilst social commentators express their disgust and dismay, is it not equally reprehensible for horses to be running after being exposed to yesterdays turmoil. I am not sure of how stabling works in the area or how far horses are kept from the Bremner stables, but I have read that horses are susceptible to PTSD, in fact, more susceptible than humans!

No amount of security can erase the horses' turmoil. If we really gave a shit we would walk away from this meeting all together!

You got to be Joking ? The same 'grooms' that attacked the Horses yesterday are going to be working with the HORSES TODAY ? Excuse me I am GOBSMACKED ....

As per The Eagles - 'there's 3 sides to every story, babe - there's yours and there's mine and the cold hard truth' - imo this needs to be resolved at the source - as we are being told that 'intimidation is rife' - obviously easier said than done - so the dispute needs to be settled, else it's going to happen again - unless someone is able to remove the ones causing all the trouble - and surely the police has to to their job and arrest those that injured the horses deliberately - not sure what the charge would be though - perhaps willful destruction of property ?

I am in the camp of those that believe that racing should continue today - no way should thugs determine how we live our lives ...