Andrew Fortune's Ride on Vandross

15 April 2009

PRESS RELEASE

RACING

Inquiry – Jockey Andrew Fortune

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held on 2 April 2009, which was adjourned and resumed on 15 April 2009, Jockey Andrew Fortune was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.3, in that as the rider of VANDROSS he failed to ride this colt out to the end of the race by failing to display the same vigour and determination shown earlier, in the final few strides of the race. This had the effect of allowing the gelding TITUS ALONE, which was closing the race off strongly, to finish within a short head of VANDROSS at the finish in Race 8 on 7 March 2009 at the Kenilworth Racecourse.

Mr Fortune pleaded not guilty.

The Board found Mr Fortune guilty and imposed a fine of R2 000.00.

Mr Fortune has the right of appeal against both the finding and the penalty.

Why didn't he just put up his hand and say "guilty as charged" ?

He was lethargic on another horse the other day(no names)!!!

MANNE SHOULD JUST WRITE BLANK CHEQUES FOR THE STIPES AND LET THEM FILL THEM IN AFTER EACH MEETING. SAVE TIME OF HAVING THE HEARING AND THE APPEALS.

My question is when other jockey(s) do the same thing they aren't dragged before the enquiry board, so why the double standards...?

Had AF's mount lost the race, then sure, drag him before a disciplinary board but he never lost the race...

Don't be so sure Sean - I think the stipes are looking at all jockeys to ride out to the line - recent riders to fall foul were Roby Bekeery, Willie Uys, Chad Little and Anton Marcus if my memory serves. They are not looking for AF specifically and I think he would be the first to admit that he has had been given more chances than most by the jockey club- remember he is riding an incredible amount and is bound to make mistakes due to the volume of rides. Best to set a standard quickly before it becomes the norm to ease down and YOU lose a p6 because a jock thought he had the race won!

I agree completely, if the same standard is set across the board, but how many times dont you see a jockey pulling up in the final stages to win by a smaller margin to avoid jumping up in ratings...?

Leave AF out of the equation, the fact is that the board is inconsistent with their enquiries and different standards are set for different jocks...

1 particular incident last month the jockey stopped riding at around the 150m mark to win by a short head, there was no enquiry into this, the horse won, but definitely wasn't ridden out.

Long story short, at the end of the day I feel they need to be consistent so if some jockeys are penalised for not riding out to the line, all jockeys should be penalised for that infringement and if some jockeys are overlooked because of judgement or whatever reason and they win the race, then all jockeys should be all allowed the same freedom of judgement rather than have double standards...

Just my opinion.

Agreed SeanG; not a peep from the Stipes on the Strydon ride!

Agreed Yeldah,Strydoms ride was one of the worst hands down that i have ever seen.Two other observations that i made was that Chainsaw thought that strydom was the consumate pro on that ride and i also noted that Cecil the on course presenter who intervied strydom after the race and mentioned the ride was replaced by Molly for strydoms other winners he had on the day

That ride of Strydom's I actually thought the saddle had slipped 80m out... he stood up in the saddle for a few strides....

Saddle never slipped, 150m out Striker was looking for horses and there were none so he stopped riding, he was even pulling up before the line, with the rider on the second horse saw an opportunity and switched to try and catch him before the line...

Imo double standards, and this is not the only jockey or race where horses aren't ridden out to the finish line and the infringement is overlooked...

I presume you are talking about Strydom on Swarming.

Basically the Gauteng stipes seem to turn a blind eye to this practise, while in CT they are far stricter.