Total of 20 suspensions issued in first week of new whip rules
A total of 20 driving bans were imposed in the first week under the British Horseracing Authority’s revised whip rules, with one serious breach resulting in disqualification.
New rules came into effect on February 13, after the new penalty structure was not yet in effect but jockeys were informed of the penalty they would have received for infractions.
Whip bans are no longer issued on the day of the offense and all violations are referred to the Whip Review Committee, which met Tuesday to review cases.
Charlotte Jones was found to have used her whip 11 times when she banged a head into second place in Jimmy Moffatt’s Lunar Discovery last Tuesday in Ayr.
Because she exceeded the seven-strike limit by four, and the committee determined that “none of the hits were clearly and unequivocally for safety purposes,” her mount was disqualified and Jones will be suspended for 14 days (March 7-20 inclusive).
Lorcan Williams is one of the more prominent names to flout the regulations and he will miss the Cheltenham Festival after being suspended for 18 days for his winning ride on Makin’yourmindup in Haydock on Saturday (repeat below).
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Williams, who is part of champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ stable, had feared he would be severely punished after driving makin’yourmindup home to the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle in a close finish.
He was found to have used his whip twice over the amount allowed, but as the race was a Grade Two a heavier penalty was assessed, as befits the new structure.
His suspension begins March 7 and runs through March 24. Williams was also fined £1,050.
Runner-up in that race, Kevin Brogan, also used his whip above the permitted level, with his extra strike costing him an eight-day suspension as suspensions were doubled in class one and two races.
Aidan Coleman, Gavin Sheehan and Derek Fox were also on the suspension list, each with a four-day suspension, while Luke Scott got 14 days for his ride aboard Progressive in Wetherby.
Harry Kimber received two separate suspensions meaning 19 individual drivers were in breach of the rules, with three offenses committed in the same conditional jockey’s hurdle at Newcastle on 16 February.
Violations were not limited to overuse, with some riders – including Coleman – being judged for not giving their mounts time to react, while others used the whip with their arm above shoulder height.
The new rules were introduced after a consultation process, with a late revision in January when the originally intended policy banning the use of the whip on the forehand was reversed in favor of a reduced number of hits and a harsher penalty structure.
After the suspensions were imposed, David Jones, Chair of the Whip Consultation Steering Group, said: “The changes to the Whip rules introduced last week were the result of an extensive consultation process.
“The new rules are based on recommendations submitted to the BHA Board by a steering group composed of experts from across the racing industry and beyond, including celebrity jockeys and trainers.
“They agreed that changes needed to be made to ensure more sensible use of the whip for encouragement and to improve perceptions of whip use.
“The changes include a reduction in the number of allowed uses of the whip by one, to six in a flat race and seven in a jump race, as well as increased penalties for infractions. The jockeys consulted agreed that higher penalties were necessary.
“Similar changes were recently announced in France, where the thresholds for acceptable use are already lower than in British racing.
“It’s not about placating those who want to ban the sport or trying to convert them. Instead, it’s about ensuring that racing takes control of its own destiny and making sure we protect the sport from changing perceptions among its future audiences.
“Racing has so much to be proud of. We all look forward to celebrating the amazing horses and people and the wonderful stories our sport is producing in the coming weeks.”
Brant Dunshea, BHA’s Chief Regulatory Officer, added: “Jockeys have had more than four weeks to adapt to the new rules during the break-in period. As the jockeys themselves have explained, it is now up to them to ensure they ride within the new rules.”
Dunshea described the disqualification as “the ultimate deterrent to excessive use of the whip” and hopes the early authority will send “a clear message” to drivers.
He said: “There is simply no excuse for using the whip four times or more above the permitted level. It was always likely that the disqualification rule would need to be invoked in the early stages of implementation of the new rules.
“We hope this sends a clear message to all jockeys and reinforces that deterrent effect.”
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