BHA to impose tougher whip rules...
Riders are being further restricted as to how many times they can use the whip in a race, as well as being handed out stiffer punishments for using it with excessive frequency.
Frequency guidelines have been removed and replaced by strict and easily understood limits on whip use.
The whip can only be used a maximum of seven times in a Flat race, and eight times in a jumps race (and only five times in the last furlong/after the last obstacle).
This is roughly half the amount of times a whip could be used previously before being in breach of the rules of racing.
Increased entry-point penalties are being implemented, with a five-day minimum suspension for not adhering to the frequency limits. The previous minimum penalty was a caution.
A jockey who incurs a whip ban of three days or more will forfeit his riding fee and prize-money percentage.
Penalties will increase for those who breach the rules on more than one occasion, and the second offence will be double that of a first offence.
The new guidelines and penalties will come into effect on Monday, October 10.
The BHA announced the changes on Tuesday morning after leading the review, compiled with input from recognised animal welfare bodies, including the RSPCA.
Use of the whip was the subject of much scrutiny when Jason Maguire was found to have struck Ballabriggs 17 times when winning the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April. Maguire was suspended five days.
Frankie Dettori was also banned nine days after he hit Rewilding 24 times inside the final two furlongs of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
An outright ban on using the whip during races had come under discussion during the review.
RACING pundit John McCririck believes the sport has missed an ideal opportunity to boost its image by failing to ban hitting horses with the whip.
The Channel 4 Racing and At The Races expert feels the British Horseracing Authority has been “gutless” in not abolishing the stick, but it is just a matter of time before hitting horses will be a thing of the past.
“It’s a typical BHA review and compromise. We’ve been talking about the whip for 30 years and the fact is the whip is on the way out,” he said.
“There’s no other living creature on the planet you are legally allowed to hit.”
McCririck’s views come after the result of a 10-month review by the BHA was announced.
Starting on October 10, the whip can only be used a maximum of seven times in a Flat race, and up to eight times in a jumps race.
However, McCririck is unimpressed with the rule changes.
“It’s all a question of image and the public’s perception, women especially and newcomers to racing. They can’t abide that we are hitting these horses to try to make them go faster,” he went on.”
“More races are lost through the whip than because of it as horses swerve away from it.
“I used to be in favour of the whip, but it’s now become macho for jockeys. People think if they don’t hit them they aren’t trying.
“More people in racing are now supporting abolition.
“We need a whip for steering purposes, but not to hit and not to punish.
“The BHA has spent millions on Racing For Change and all the new gimmicks and ideas they have brought in. Some are fine, but this is one reform we could make ourselves to enhance racing’s image.”
