Allegations of race-fixing and related disciplinary actions have resulted in deep concern over the trustworthiness of a sport that has captivated enthusiasts for centuries.
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FOR racehorse owners and long-time punters, allegations of race-fixing and related disciplinary actions have resulted in deep concern over the trustworthiness of a sport that has captivated enthusiasts for centuries.
Kuben Gengan, a racehorse owner and punter, said the recent race-fixing allegations and disciplinary matters involving jockeys had left him disappointed and conflicted.
“As both an owner and a punter, I believe integrity is fundamental to the future and credibility of horse racing. Owners invest substantial amounts of money into horses, trainers, transport, veterinary care, and racing costs with the expectation that races are conducted fairly and competitively.
“Likewise, punters spend hours studying the race form and trying to make informed selections based on trust in the integrity of the sport. What concerns me most is the feeling that race outcomes may not always be determined purely by the horse’s ability or the natural merit of the contest itself. Once confidence in the fairness of racing is damaged, it impacts everyone involved in the industry,” he said.
Gengan said he had never personally been directly involved in or witnessed race-fixing first-hand.
“However, like many people involved in racing for a long time, there are occasions where certain rides or outcomes leave people questioning whether everything was above board. That uncertainty alone can be damaging to the sport because racing relies heavily on public confidence and trust.”
Gengan said he believed that the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) of Southern Africa were taking the allegations seriously.
“The fact that investigations are taking place, individuals are being charged, and sanctions are being imposed demonstrate that the authorities understand how important integrity is to the future of racing.”
Gengan added that no sport was completely immune from corruption, especially where betting was involved.
“The real test is whether governing bodies are prepared to investigate wrongdoing and hold people accountable. From what we have seen recently, there does appear to be a genuine effort to do exactly that, and I believe it is an important step towards restoring confidence in the industry.”
Gengan said he believed stricter monitoring, stronger investigative processes and harsher penalties for anyone found guilty of corruption were necessary to protect the integrity of the sport.
“Transparency is also very important because owners and punters need to feel confident that concerns are being taken seriously and dealt with properly. Education within the industry is equally important, especially for younger jockeys and individuals entering the sport, so they fully understand the long-term damage corruption can cause to racing and to their own careers.
“Horse racing survives on trust. Owners, punters, trainers, and racing enthusiasts all need to believe that every horse is given a fair chance; and that races are run honestly and competitively,” he said.
Gengan became a racehorse owner in 2010.
“I have owned shares in several horses over the years while also remaining actively involved in the sport as a punter. Horse racing has been a lifelong passion for me and my involvement in the sport stretches back more than three decades. I developed an interest in racing from a very young age and started punting on horse races in 1994 while I was still at school. As they say, once I placed that first bet, ‘the bug bit’, and my passion for the sport only grew from there.
“Over time, my interest evolved far beyond betting and eventually led to horse ownership. I also closely follow international horse racing and have travelled extensively to attend race meetings around the world. I have been fortunate enough to watch thoroughbreds compete on virtually every continent, which highlights just how much I enjoy the sport,” he said.
Another racehorse owner and punter, who requested anonymity, said race-fixing was a great issue.
“It costs the industry so much in terms of integrity and reputation. However, from an owner’s perspective , you pay all the monthly fees, which can cost between R12,000 to R14,000. In addition, you have to worry about vet bills. There are also nomination fees, vitamin costs, physiotherapy, and transport fees to race tracks, among other expenses.
“However, a jockey is expected to give the horse the best possible chance. For a professional jockey to impede a horse is a betrayal of trust, not only to the owner and trainer, but to the betting public who fund the running of horse racing,” he said.
The man said he was sceptical about the inquiry findings in the case of jockey S'manga Khumalo.
“The NHA has not been a friend of racing. While it is funded by the racing clubs, they actually operate as a law unto themselves. They believe it is their duty to wield a rod and no one is to question them. Many past cases have still not been finalised, why not conclude those as well? I believe that the minister of sports should overhaul the NHA’s board and leadership.”
The man, who currently has shares in nine racehorses, said he started betting as far back as the 1980s.
“It was introduced to me by my family. The joys and thrill of winning is something inexplicable. There is nothing like leading your own horse into the winner's enclosure. However, there are no real perks unless you win a listed and/or graded race.”
A long-time punter who requested anonymity, said race-fixing was not uncommon.
“We all know that it is happening. But If you don’t have the big money to ‘fix’ a race, then you just have to cross your fingers and hope you made the right choice. However, we ‘small-time’ punters do get tips from insiders, but it's not fixing a race. It is telling us about the health condition of a horse and how it is expected to run.”