Gauteng Starting stall issues

I watched the racing today and it struck me at how many times horses bolted or starts got delayed.........Now it turns out that one of the jocks, Derreck David, broke his leg in two places before race 1 at the Vaal due to his mount being installed right at the beginning of the loading process even when the starter knew it was a problem horse............

I have copied an article from Racingweb for you guys to read.......If any of these allegations are true then I'm shocked it has gone on for so long. I hope they get to the bottom of this and they don't let the horses or jocks suffer anymore!!!!
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THE Gauteng starting team, under leadership of Lefe Maphutse, will be the subject of a full investigation by the NHA’s Racing Control Manager Vee Moodley on Friday.

This follows an incident in which Champion apprentice Derreck David broke his leg in two places at the start of Race 1 at the Vaal on Thursday.

It is alleged that David’s urgent calls for assistance while on a known, fractious horse was ignored by Mr Maphutse, who instead gave the instruction for the horse to be loaded early. More incidents occiued during the course of the day, including horses breaking loose.

Ray Curling, the father of leading apprentice Ryan Curling, has for a while been trying to draw attention to things going wrong at the start,. He said yesterday: “Last week I warned everyone who would listen that the Gauteng starting team is undermanned, a disaster waiting to happen, and that jockeys could sustain serious injuries in this circus. Now, it’s happened.”

Curling said that many leading senior jockeys have complained to him about the situation at the start; the starter’s said arrogance and unwillingness to listen; his inability to get to know the horses he deals with, including ‘problem’ horses, and his general disrespect for jockeys. Maphutse is also being blamed for excessive use of his stock whip on horses. Curfling went as far as to threaten legela action and said that he had senior jockeys who would testify to serious pronlems at the start

“This cannot possibly continue,” said one trainer interviewed. We need these problems solved!

Moodley commented: “The starting team are dealing with huge animals of flesh and blood and human emotions run high. I urge everyone to remain calm, We will investigate today, Friday and willl get to the bottom of things. I do not believe, for one, that we are short-staffed, as I have 16 handlers working at the gates.

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lets not forget andile malaba whose horse flipped over backwards at scotsville 2 weeks ago and he had a major injury and is out for 6 months..

These things obviously happen but the KZN starts have been shambolic for some time and nothing seems to happen. But the Vaal in recent weeks has been a real mess and the double loss of Sos and the Late Big Henry is being sorely felt in Gauteng.

Wish Derrick David a speedy recovery, poor lad must be in agony.

On a lessor note Clan C was in the same boat, was loaded early against instructions from Uncle George, and was injured in the pens