INQUIRY - TRAINER E KAKNIS

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa confirms that at an Inquiry held in Gqeberha on Thursday, 27 February 2025, Trainer Emmanuel Kaknis was charged with a contravention of Rule 10.5.8. The particulars being that as the Trainer of AMERICAN PITBULL (J Gates) and LUCK STRUCK (E Webber), he failed to ensure that the correct equipment was placed on these respective horses. The saddles of Jockey E Webber and Jockey J Gates were mistakenly switched, resulting in a delay to the start of the race and the horses being scratched from Race 3 at Fairview Racecourse on 31 January 2025.

Trainer Kaknis pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.

The Inquiry Board, after reviewing the evidence presented, including the footage from the weighing room and considering the mitigating and aggravating factors presented, as well as taking Trainer Kaknis’s record with regards to this Rule into account, imposed a fine of R10 000 (ten thousand rand) of which R5000 (five thousand rand) is suspended for a period of 24 months on condition that Mr Kaknis is not found guilty of contravening this rule during this period.

Trainer Kaknis was given the Right of Appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed.

NHA Release