DAVE THE KING retained his official merit rating of 128 following his victory in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The Handicappers determined that he had performed to his mark and used him as the benchmark for assessing the race, given that he won this event last year. 


The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms a reported Prohibited Substance finding. 

The presence of Butorphanol (Class 2) was detected upon analysis of a specimen taken from VJ’S ANGEL at the Vaal Racecourse on 29 April 2025. VJ’S ANGEL was presented on that day for the purpose of determining whether a suspension imposed on the filly in terms of Rule 93.2.4, following the TAB Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) on 29 March 2025, should be lifted.


SOUTH AFRICAN FILLIES SPRINT (Grade 1) brought to you by The Witness 

MIA MOO’S official merit rating has been adjusted to 117 from 115 following her victory in the Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint, brought to you by The Witness, for fillies and mares over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that the runner-up, ASIYE PHAMBILI, was the most suitable horse to assess the race, leaving her rating unchanged at 116. 


To all licensed persons and industry stakeholders, 

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) held a strategic meeting today between their respective executive management teams to discuss the availability and distribution of the African Horse Sickness (AHS) vaccine for the 2025 season. We are pleased to report that OBP has confirmed sufficient stock to meet national demand. The collaboration was productive and reaffirmed both organisations’ commitment to protecting the national horse population through efficient vaccine rollout and public awareness. 


The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirms that an urgent investigation has been opened into the circumstances that resulted in the filly named AFFIRMATIVE, under the care and supervision of trainer Mr L F Robinson, having to be humanely euthanised earlier today. 


The National Horseracing Authority confirms that upon analysis by its Laboratory, the presence of Methamphetamine, a FORBIDDEN SUBSTANCE (Class 1), was disclosed in a plasma specimen taken from VITELLIUS after it had won Race 9 at Turffontein Racecourse on 27 April 2025.  


DAILY NEWS 2000 (Grade 1) 

The official merit rating of EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN has been increased from 127 to 129 following his victory in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The runner-up, SPUMANTE DOLCE, was identified as the most appropriate line horse for assessing this race, and her rating remains unchanged at 117. 


The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa confirms a reported Prohibited Substance finding. 

The presence of Ketoprofen (Class 4) was disclosed upon analysis of a specimen taken from ELUSIVE WINTER after the running of Race 6, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on 1 February 2025.  The Training partnership responsible, Mr H Crawford and Mrs M Rix elected to sign an Admission of Guilt for a contravention of Rule 73.2.4 and a fine for an amount of R23 000 was imposed. 


The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that, the Chief Executive and the Racing Control Executive, have imposed an interim suspension upon Assistant Trainer Mr Y Seebundhun in terms of the provisions of Rule 91.2, pending an Inquiry into inter alia the alleged non-compliance of the terms of his conditions of his Assistant Trainer’s Licence, coupled with an investigation of the content of a video clip disseminated by Mr Y Seebundhun.