S’MANGA Khumalo, who is 21 winners clear of Piere Strydom on the South African Jockeys Log, has been suspended from riding for 60 days. He has the right of appeal but if he fails, his first National Title could slip away while he’s on the bench.

The National Horseracing Authority confirmed on Tuesday that an inquiry was held at its offices on Monday 2 December 2013, at which Khumalo was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.1 in that whilst riding Sean Tarry’s Supertube in the 10th race run at the Vaal  on 5 November 2013, he failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that his mount was given a full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing.

The details of the charge are that after a slight stumble at the start, Khumalo failed to take measures to improve his position in the first 900 metres of the race, and in the final 500 metres he failed to ride with his normal vigour and determination. Khumalo was unsure how to plea, the Board entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf, but found him guilty of the charge.