BHA Imposes New Whip Sanctions

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Jockeys 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. Forfeit 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 10. The BHA announced the changes on Tuesday 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. BHA RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendation 1: Based on extensive consultation and the detailed research outlined in this report, that the use of the whip for safety and encouragement should continue, and that the term 'correction' is superfluous. Recommendation 2: Under the current Rules and penalties the number of breaches of the whip Rules each year is unacceptable, and action should be taken by the Authority to achieve behavioural change amongst, and compliance by, jockeys. Recommendation 3: Whilst current scientific evidence broadly supports the continued use of the whip in Racing - providing strict controls are enforced - further research is needed and the Authority should continue to support investigations in this field. Recommendation 4: The Authority should continue to support research into the design of the whip and incorporate any future technological innovations into British Horseracing as appropriate if it is felt that equine welfare could be enhanced. Recommendation 5: The Authority should widely publish the results of this Review and take other steps to try to maximise understanding of the use of the whip within Racing. Recommendation 6: The Authority should commission future public opinion research in order to keep track of the views of the public regarding the use of the whip. Recommendation 7: That any ambiguity within the penalty structure be removed by considering that use of the whip with the jockey's whip hand off the reins be considered as a hit regardless of how, where, or with what force the whip is used on the horse. Recommendation 8: That the practice of issuing cautions for breaches of the whip Rules be discontinued. This is intended to bring about greater compliance with the Rules by jockeys. Recommendation 9: That the entry point for all whip offences be increased significantly, together with increasing the additional component by which the Stewards arrive at what they believe to be the appropriate penalty for an offence. Recommendation 10: That the current totting up procedure be discontinued for suspensions arising out of the breaches of the whip Rules, and that in its place the Stewards will consider a jockey's prior disciplinary record for whip offences within a rolling twelve month period in imposing incremental penalties for the current offence. This will lead to a jockey who is a repeat offender being referred to the Disciplinary Panel at a much earlier stage. Recommendation 11: That the riding suspensions imposed on jockeys for breaching the whip Rules be effective on the days on which they are due to be served regardless of whether or not Group 1 or Grade 1 races are scheduled to be run. Recommendation 12: Where a jockey is found to have contravened the Rules through their use of the whip during a race and such contravention results in a suspension of three days or more, before previous offences are taken into account, that jockey will forfeit any monies that they would otherwise have been entitled to under the Rules. This should apply not only to the jockey's share of the total prize fund, but also to the riding fee due for having ridden in the race. Recommendation 13: In the case of the jockey being an apprentice jockey or conditional jockey whose employer is normally entitled to a share of the jockey's earnings, the employer shall also forfeit any monies payable from the jockey's earnings as they would have otherwise been entitled to under the Rules. Recommendation 14: That a Rule be implemented to make it an offence for an owner to compensate, or instruct any other person to compensate, any jockey for any earnings forfeited as a result of breaching the whip Rules. Recommendation 15: That the Authority should incorporate current understanding of animal welfare, behavioural and other science into jockey training to ensure whip use is acceptable and not counterproductive and also make greater use of remedial training for all jockeys, not just Amateurs, who are identified to have deficiencies in their riding, including the use of the whip. Recommendation 16: That any Apprentice Jockey or Conditional Jockey, regardless of their experience, transferring permanently to Great Britain from an overseas Racing jurisdiction be required to undergo training at the Authority's approved training providers prior to being licensed by the Authority. Recommendation 17: That any jockey who has been referred to, and found to be in breach by, the Disciplinary Panel for whip related offences on three occasions should be required to 'show cause' to the Authority as to why any application for a further licence ought be granted Recommendation 18: That the Authority put in place a system which will enable it to identify visiting jockeys whose disciplinary record, when riding in Great Britain, is of such concern that consideration of extending the privilege to that jockey of riding in Great Britain should be withdrawn. Recommendation 19: That the Authority, in conjunction with its accepted training providers, revisits the course content and structure delivered to Apprentice Jockeys, Conditional Jockeys, and Amateur Riders at each stage in their career to ensure proper consideration is given to providing the most effective training for jockeys in acceptable and correct use of the whip.

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New whip rules. Provision to use a whip halved. Just seen on the BBC news at one that the BHA is going to introduce new provisions on how often a jockey can use a whip. According to the report a jockey will only be allowed to use a whip a maximum of 8 times per race, as oppossed to the current 16. Loads of points here. But one id like to make right away. 8 times in a 5f fast ground group one at Ascot is probably about right. 8 times in a selling hurdle over 3m in a quagmire round (for instance) Chepstow is going to present all manner of issues. Thoughts?