Mark Sham fined

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held at its offices on Tuesday, 11 February 2020, Mr Mark Sham was charged with a contravention of:



Rules 72.1.25 and 72.1.26.

The particulars being that he conducted himself in an improper manner on racecourse property, which might have had the effect of discrediting horseracing and which did or might have brought into disrepute the good name of the National Horseracing Authority on 15 January 2020 at the 138th Annual General Meeting held at its offices at Turffontein Racecourse.

Mr Sham pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was found guilty of the charge.

The Board after considering the evidence led, and taking into account the arguments in aggravation and mitigation, ruled that Mr Sham be fined the sum of thirty thousand rand (R30 000) of which fifteen thousand rand (R15 000) is suspended for a period of twenty-four months, provided that Mr Sham is not found guilty of a similar offence under these Rules during this period.

Mr Sham has the right of appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed.

Nhra.co.za

See how quick they act when it’s one of their people “spoken to wrongly “

And another one

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an inquiry held in Johannesburg on 7 February 2020, Trainer Grant J Maroun was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.18 in that he addressed the Senior Handicapper of the NHA in an abusive and intimidatory manner on 29 October 2019.

Mr Maroun pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Inquiry Board found Mr Maroun guilty of the charge and imposed a penalty of a fine of R10 000-00, of which R5 000-00 is wholly suspended for a period of twenty-four (24) months, provided that during the period of suspension he is not found guilty of a contravention of Rule 72.1.18.

Mr Maroun has the Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed.

Bob you are close to the Shams. That press release is very vague, there's no mention what Mark did at the AGM. Is there no chance of getting his side of the story?

The charge was brought because in the AGM held in the NHA Boardroom (The Holy Grail of rooms) I showed no respect.

Mr Vee Moodley was very arrogant and intimidating throughout the meeting and after being belittled by him 3 times I finally snapped.

An advocate told him that he was not above the law...
VM replied “ don’t tell me how to run my business”
I then said “ I other words Mr Moodley , you can do as and what you please?”
VM replied “ yes I can, I am the CEO”
I said “stick your business , I can’t listen to this s**t anymore” and left the meeting

The fine is heavy because I showed disrespect to the “room”

I have appealed

Thanks for sharing Mark. Having dealt with Vee Moodley a long time ago and before he was ( somehow ) promoted to CEO I share your frustration at his sarcasm, arrogance and narcissism. Hoping your appeal is successful.

Not the president nor a judge is beyond reproach when it comes to the law, Vee must rate himself much higher than that.

Very little will change until a proper clean out of the old guard is done is horse racing. The NHA needs a drastic turnaround of rules, implementation, transparency, you name it.

Well the NHA is not "his" business, it is not owned by the CEO, he is an employee and a Director of the NHA. The Director cannot do whatever he wants, there are policies, and clear SOP's as regards the NHA is concerned.

Its now time, not tomorrow to clean house, VM should be the first to be shown the door. Arrogance has no limits with this "overachiever" , my way or the highway. WTF is VM anyway? A humble well paid servant of the game ? :lol: :lol:

Humble and his name should never be used in the same sentence. The man's arrogance is sickening. Imo he is another that needs to move on but have this nagging feeling that many of these are not going to move on their own. Whoever wields the big broom in time to come needs to sweep clean properly.

When a person cannot express himself and is disrespected like Mark was, its time for the circus to move on and follow suite as the process has already begun.

Where is the SOP that all hearings are recorded?

In his last case, James Goodman won a moral victory but lost his business in the process and yet no repercussions for the NHA.

The game will continue to bleed owners and punters until there is real change in the structures that administer horse racing.