British Horseracing Authority chief to address whip issues

Paul Bittar, the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) new chief executive, will today outline plans to defuse the whip rule controversy before the Cheltenham Festival.

He will propose fresh amendments at a board meeting in a bid to prevent jumps racing’s biggest meeting being overshadowed by the issue that has dogged the sport under both codes since last October.

“As Paul has already alluded to, the issues to be looked at are proportionality (of penalty to offence) and discretion in how it is implemented,” said BHA spokesman John Maxse.