Protests cancel Hollywoodbets events: 'Sad day for South African horse racing'

Lester Kiewit speaks to Stephen Marshall, Events and Marketing Executive for Gold Circle about the protest that led to the cancellation of a horse racing meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

On Saturday (4 May), a group of racegoers scratched the Main Defender from the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, which led to the abandonment of the last five races on the cards, including three Grade 2 (Gr2) Feature events, worth millions.

The decision to scratch the popular horse came after the National Horse Racing Authority conducted horse testing on race day 'to ensure that the integrity of racing is upheld'.

"Every single horse in the race was tested before the IOS Drill Hall Stakes. Unfortunately, the short prize favourite main defender was the only horse to fail that testing. As per protocol, the NHA vet did a second test to ensure that the reading was correct and, unfortunately, the horse failed that second test and the NHA had no option but to scratch the horse."

- Stephen Marshall, Events and Marketing Executive - Gold Circle

The decision to scratch the prize favourite led to protests by the horse owners and punters who felt 'aggrieved'.

"The decision was not taken very kindly by the owners of the horse and led to protest as many punters felt aggrieved by the situation because they had bet money on this horse. This wasn't a decision where there was interpretation involved. It was clear. It is black and white. There's a threshold level that is allowed and, if a horse tests over that level, the horse has to be scratched."

- Stephen Marshall, Events and Marketing Executive - Gold Circle

"I go back to the analogy of a football game. If a referee makes a decision like giving a player on your team a red card, that doesn't give you the right to run onto the field and stop the game because you feel aggrieved that you didn't agree with the referee's decision."

- Stephen Marshall, Events and Marketing Executive - Gold Circle

Horse owners and punters stopped other horses from going onto the track to race and the police were called to stop violence from erupting, adds Marshall. 

Further horse racing events for the season were also cancelled. 

"We took the decision to call off racing and handled the situation civilly. We've identified the culprits and banned the participants for a period of five years... and we've opened up a criminal case with SAPS. There will be further sanctions involved with regards to the losses Gold Circle has had as a result of that action."

- Stephen Marshall, Events and Marketing Executive - Gold Circle

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.