S’manga Khumalo, the first black champion jockey in South Africa, has been handed a 10-year ban after being found guilty of race-fixing. The 40-year-old was charged with three offences by the National Horseracing Authority, including improperly communicating inside information and accepting payments to influence race outcomes.
Khumalo, who rose from a violent township in Durban to win the prestigious Durban July in 2013, pleaded guilty to two charges. He admitted receiving over £5,000 from an individual named Noor Iqbal in exchange for inside information and for agreeing to ride in a manner intended to affect race results. A third charge, to which he pleaded not guilty, alleged he failed to ensure his horse ran on its merits between October 2025 and February 2026.
The Inquiry Board found him guilty on all counts and announced the cancellation of his jockey licence on Wednesday. The ban takes effect from 23 March 2026, with five years suspended for 15 years. Khumalo has the right to appeal the decision.
Khumalo, nicknamed ‘Bling’ for his distinctive style, overcame a difficult childhood to become a trailblazer in South African racing. He rode over 2,300 winners, including 22 Group 1 successes, and represented his country at the 2014 Shergar Cup at Ascot.
