Disqualification proposal crazy

I WON’T hold you long on the subject of the whip in British racing because it has been dealt with quite comprehensively elsewhere in this publication but I have to say I was astounded by the suggestion that a horse should be disqualified if its jockey breaches the rules by using said whip too many times.

What a bizarre and untenable situation it would lead to in the betting industry! Imagine the scenario where an owner or an “associate” of a jockey (and if the corruption cases of the past number of years have taught us anything, it’s that the racing game is full of “associates”) tells the pilot that if the horse is going to win the race, ensure to administer a minimum of one whip too many so as to get disqualified.

Many within the racing industry have spent much of the recent past complaining that the exchanges have opened up the avenues to corruption within the sport but I would be of the opinion that they have actually served to highlight and expose such practices. This move, however, would give carte blanche to the corrupt layer — in the guise of said associate or owner — to take full advantage of a rule that plays right into their hands.