Darley against strike action

Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Kevin Darley has attempted to cool speculation over a possible riders’ strike next week.

Leading jockeys yesterday gave a mixed response to the revised amendments to the controversial new whip regulations which came into effect on October 10.

Among the changes are the removal of the five-hit rule inside the final furlong/after the last obstacle.

Riders will now not lose their riding fee if suspended for a whip offence.

They will also only lose their percentage of prize-money if their offence earns a ban of seven days or more, rather than the three days the rules originally stated.

However, growing disquiet remains in the weighing room over the severity of penalties for minor breaches of the rules, sparking fervour of strike action.

But Darley told the Morning Line: “We’ve been very proactive, in that we’ve gone about it through the correct process.

“The jockeys, as you’ve heard, have wanted to strike.

“That’s counterproductive as far as I’m concerned, and that’s the last thing we want to do for the industry.

“We have got together as a group last night with my board and a lot of senior jockeys – AP (Tony McCoy), Frankie (Dettori), Ryan Moore – and said, ’What are we going to achieve out of striking?”’

Jockeys have struggled to come to terms with the guidelines since their introduction, which allow no more than seven hits in a Flat race and eight over jumps, with only five of those originally permitted inside the final furlong or after the last fence or hurdle.

Factions of the weighing room have accused the PJA of no showing enough resilience in response to the revised sanctions.

Former champion jockey Jamie Spencer said on Friday: “I think history is repeating itself like on every other issue.

“We’re weak with no strength behind us and everybody waves the flag too easy.

“I’m disappointed with a lot of the guys that have taken it all lying down.

“I don’t think it’s going to have much bearing on my riding but it’s just disappointing that everybody is just so weak.”

But Darley is adamant the PJA have shown strength by attempting to reach a suitable compromise with the BHA.

He added: “My personal responsibility is to the jockeys. I don’t think we’ve been weak at all.

“We all agreed that something needs to be done.

“The jockeys agreed that stiffer penalties will be a deterrent.

“This happened in June. We then get the outcome of the review on September 27 and the rules were in place on October 10.

“There just wasn’t time for the jockeys to digest what the rules were all about.

“We had to do something about it. We are all trying to do our best for the industry.”

The original whip changes were announced by the BHA following a 10-month review.

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.

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.

British Horseracing Authority director Jamie Stier insists the process remains beneficial to the long-term future of racing.

He said: “The whole basis under which the review has taken place has been worth it.

“Whilst there has certainly been negative aspects to the outcome, that (the new whip rules) is there to ensure the health of the sport into the future.

“We consulted with the jockeys in the process, the same as we consulted all of the other stakeholders.

“We listened to what they had to say. The other stakeholders and the jockeys acknowledged that there needed to be change.

“It is true we did not go and run past them the penalty structure imposed.

“That is our job as a regulator to determine the appropriate penalty structure.

“We listened to their (the jockeys’) concerns and they had some valid concerns.

“We took what we believed to be the appropriate action to address those.

“We’ve acted responsibly through the whole process. Even with the amendments, the principles underlined in the review remain intact.

“Right from the outset, even in the original outcome, there were people who were not happy.

“Everyone does not get everything they want.”