Abashiri and Adriaan van Vuuren (Liesl King)

Adriaan van Vuuren, whose orange-and-black silks were carried by Triple Crown winner Abashiri, has written on Facebook that he and wife Rika will be leaving the sport of horseracing.

Van Vuuren says that he and his family have been hurt by the “evil eyes” of the media, following his decision to run Abashiri in the Vodacom Durban July.

He wrote on Facebook on Monday night:

It is with sadness that I have to announce that myself and Misty Meadows will exit Horse Racing as owners in the coming season. The abuse of the media and false and inaccurate reporting has destroyed our love and desire for the sport.

We will not buy or purchase one more horse and will reduce our presence down to 30 horses. Support and involvement to zero in the coming months. It is sad to say but in this game we are not prepared to pay in family time and resources to be abused and victimized like this.

Sporting Post and all other evil eyes – Well done and mission achieved. Sad day for me but I must be the most stupid man alive to continue in a dishonest hi-jacked two-man circus where I am described and labelled as the main clown.

This clown is done and signing out for duty.