Horse Racing:Jockeys racing across the Irish Sea will face stiffer penalties for use of the whip in new rules being introduced in two weeks' time following a 10-month review by the British Horseracing Authority.
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 10th. The BHA announced the changes this 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.