RACING:THE RESULTS of an emergency review into Britain's controversial new whip rules could be released by this Friday as racing's authorities last night attempted to defuse widespread anger among jockeys against rules that were brought in just eight days ago.
Five more jockeys were suspended yesterday, including apprentice Kieren Fox who received a 10-day suspension for the whip at Windsor, just a week after getting a 15-day ban at Salisbury last week.
They were just the latest cases of jockeys getting into trouble under the new rules and a deputation of high-profile riders, including Richard Hughes, who handed his licence in last week in protest at the whip regulations, met the British Horseracing Authority board to discuss the issue in London yesterday.
Also present were Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and the jumps champion Tony McCoy.
The Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Kevin Darley emerged after that 90-minute meeting and said he was hopeful of progress on the issue and last night the BHA confirmed a review group to examine the jockeys’ proposals, and other issues relating to the whip rules, will issue a report before the end of the week.
The current rules will remain in place until then.
In a statement, the BHA said: “Any change to regulations must be carefully considered and subject to due process. The board has today reiterated its endorsement of the principles behind the review. The new rules, adopted by the authority, received widespread support from across the industry.
“Appropriate evidence needs to be reviewed and there will need to be engagement with other relevant parties. The board has directed the review group to undertake this process and report back by no later than the end of the week.”
BHA officials thanked the jockeys association for their constructive engagement with the board yesterday. The new rules allow a rider on the Flat to use the whip seven times, with only five of those “hits” to come inside the final furlong. In National Hunt races, the total amount allowed is eight, with five of those permitted after the final obstacle.
As well as riding bans, any rider found in breach forfeits their riding fee and percentage of prizemoney. A potential strike at Flat meetings at Pontefract and Windsor was averted on Friday night when the BHA called riders’ representatives to the meeting in High Holborn.
On Saturday top French-based jockey Christophe Soumillon said he was “embarrassed” for British racing when he was penalised for hitting the Champion Stakes winner Cirrus Des Aigles six times in the final furlong – one more than permitted.
Soumillon was not only handed a five-day suspension but also forced to forfeit his considerable percentage of the prize-money and his riding fee, totalling almost €55,000.
