The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced new plans to disqualify horses whose jockeys seriously breach whip rules. Under the proposals, a horse will be disqualified if its rider uses the whip four or more times above the permitted threshold. The changes, outlined in a report by the BHA's whip consultation steering group, also mandate that the whip be used only in the backhand position and double suspensions for overuse in major races.
If the rules had been in place earlier this year, Grand National winner Noble Yeats would have been disqualified. Winning rider Sam Waley-Cohen was suspended for nine days and fined £400 for using his whip above the permitted level and in the incorrect place. The amateur jockey did not serve the ban as he had already announced his retirement.
The new rules stipulate that any jump jockey who strikes their mount 12 times or more in a big race would have their horse disqualified. Flat riders would face the same penalty if they strike their mount 11 times, though leeway is allowed if a rider demonstrates a need to ensure safety. Currently, jump jockeys are limited to eight strikes, and flat jockeys to seven.
The report includes 20 recommendations, such as increasing the starting point for suspensions from two to three days, doubling suspensions for breaches in major races, and establishing a whip review panel. The changes are intended to be implemented from late autumn, with a bedding-in period. However, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) called the proposals 'a real missed opportunity for horse welfare.'
