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21/10/2011
U-Turn On Horseracing Whip Rules
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is to amend their controversial regulations on use of the whip during races.
Riders must still rein-in the number of times they strike a horse, but they will now be able to use their allocation at any point in the race.
The news comes after a number of high profile jockeys spoke out against the recently implemented regulations. On Thursday, however, the controversy went into full gallop on Thursday when AP McCoy and Frankie Dettori rode into the debate, accusing the BHA of misleading them when the two jockeys originally endorsed the new rules.
In a joint statement, McCoy and Dettori said: "In hindsight we would like to have given more consideration to the new rules before commenting. We didn't give them properly informed approval and we really wish that the BHA would stop saying that we did."
Following that statement, the BHA have now responded saying they would remove the five-hit rule inside the final furlong/after the last obstacle.
The BHA admitted jockeys had struggled to come to terms with the guidelines since their introduction last Monday, which allow no more than seven hits in a Flat race and eight over jumps.
While that number of strikes will remain the same, the BHA have scrapped the rule which state jockeys are allowed to use their whip no more than five times inside the final furlong, or after the final obstacle in National Hunt races.
A BHA statement read: "The board is committed to the highest standards of regulation in the sport, and ensuring that British Horseracing continues to lead the way in matters of equine welfare. This is a sport not without its challenges, but they will always be outweighed by the sport's strengths.
"These challenges will best be met - and are being met - by finding a common purpose amongst the sport's participants, and by putting the sport first."
The new ruling will be applied retrospectively although jockeys could still lose prize money if they exceed the seven or eight strike allowance.
Jockey Richard Hughes, who handed in his racing licence after being suspended for using the whip with excessive frequency on the first afternoon of the new regulations at Salisbury last Monday is expected to return to racing following the BHA's u-turn.
(DW/BMcC)
Riders must still rein-in the number of times they strike a horse, but they will now be able to use their allocation at any point in the race.
The news comes after a number of high profile jockeys spoke out against the recently implemented regulations. On Thursday, however, the controversy went into full gallop on Thursday when AP McCoy and Frankie Dettori rode into the debate, accusing the BHA of misleading them when the two jockeys originally endorsed the new rules.
In a joint statement, McCoy and Dettori said: "In hindsight we would like to have given more consideration to the new rules before commenting. We didn't give them properly informed approval and we really wish that the BHA would stop saying that we did."
Following that statement, the BHA have now responded saying they would remove the five-hit rule inside the final furlong/after the last obstacle.
The BHA admitted jockeys had struggled to come to terms with the guidelines since their introduction last Monday, which allow no more than seven hits in a Flat race and eight over jumps.
While that number of strikes will remain the same, the BHA have scrapped the rule which state jockeys are allowed to use their whip no more than five times inside the final furlong, or after the final obstacle in National Hunt races.
A BHA statement read: "The board is committed to the highest standards of regulation in the sport, and ensuring that British Horseracing continues to lead the way in matters of equine welfare. This is a sport not without its challenges, but they will always be outweighed by the sport's strengths.
"These challenges will best be met - and are being met - by finding a common purpose amongst the sport's participants, and by putting the sport first."
The new ruling will be applied retrospectively although jockeys could still lose prize money if they exceed the seven or eight strike allowance.
Jockey Richard Hughes, who handed in his racing licence after being suspended for using the whip with excessive frequency on the first afternoon of the new regulations at Salisbury last Monday is expected to return to racing following the BHA's u-turn.
(DW/BMcC)
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