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Horse jockeys are all armed with a riding crop that’s one of the most valuable tools in their arsenal during a race. However, one of South Africa’s top riders has found himself at the center of an investigation after he used his as a weapon to wail on another competitor while heading down the homestretch.
The physical ability of the animals at the center of horse races may be the primary factor when it comes to which entrant crosses the finish line before the rest of the field, but it goes without saying the results of those events are heavily contingent on the skills of the jockeys riding them.
Being a jockey is not exactly a job for the faint of heart due to the risks you shoulder whenever you climb on the back of a horse.
The fact that the ideal jockey weighs as little as possible while still having the strength to control their steed means the horses they’re perched on usually weigh around ten times as much as their rider, and the helmets they wear only do so much to mitigate the potential downsides of getting thrown onto the track while a bunch of half-ton animals are stampeding around you.
As is the case with any sport, it’s only natural for tempers to flare between competitors during a race, and while horses may not actively lash out at their fellow equines, there have been some situations where jockeys have firmly crossed the line—like an incident that led to Christophe Soumillon being rightfully suspended for elbowing Rossa Ryan off of his ride during a race in France a few years ago.
Now, the horse racing world has been rocked by another ugly scene that unfolded at Turffontein Racecourse outside of Johannesburg on Sunday.
Gavin Lerena, one of the top jockeys on the South African circuit, was aboard 28/10 favorite Gimme A Storm during the second race at Turffontein when they ended up side-to-side with Jason Gates and the 66/1 longshot Blurred Vision in the final 200 meters.
Video captured the two men jockeying for position only for things to take a wild turn when Lerena harnessed the riding crop he’d been using on his horse to repeatedly whip Gates in the back before he pulled out of striking distance.
Drama at Turffontein: Jockey Hits fellow Jockey mid race…
Watch!
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According to 7News, South Africa’s National Horseracing Authority swiftly announced it would be conducting an official investigation. Lerena issued a statement where he said “I deeply regret the incident” and noted “What took place is entirely inconsistent with my character” while implying he’d been provoked by Gates before literally lashing out.
We’ll have to see how things pan out, but something tells me he’s going to be sitting things out for a bit.