RECURRING themes emerged on Wednesday as the industry responded to the latest changes to the whip rules, with “common-sense at last being applied” an opinion prevalent among jockeys, while trainers raged at the mess the sport has found itself in.
The BHA announcedon Tuesday that when a jockey over jumps hits his or her mount nine times (one over the limit) and a rider on the Flat uses the whip eight times (again, one over the maximum) it will, in future, trigger a review of the ride by stewards rather than an automatic ban.
Andrew Thornton: more discussion
PICTURE: Martin Lynch
A radical revision of the penalty structure has also been made, with repeat offences at the lower andupper levels not in future resulting in the penalty multipliying.
Gold Cup-winning rider Andrew Thornton said: “Paul [Struthers, PJA chief executive] had a meeting with half a dozen of us about ten days ago, and we’ve all been kept informed throughout the whole process. Those who were at the meeting have made sure all the other riders were informed, too.
“There was much more of a discussion this time. It wasn’t done behind closed doors. We’ve all appreciated that. Kevin [Darley, former PJA chief executive] was a big help in getting everything set up and Paul has taken it forward.
“From our point of view it has been proved a number [maximum times a jockey can hit a horse] doesn’t work. In the heat of a finish you are entirely focused on winning the race.
Timmy Murphy: quite positive
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker
“Thankfully, common sense has prevailed, and it has been resolved now. It was made out to be a welfare issue, but it never was.”
Timmy Murphy said of the changes: “They’re quite positive. All we want is someone to work with us, we don’t expect the whole thing to change and go back to where we were before. Penalties were the big problem as we were not [breaking the rules]on purpose.
“If someone blatantly breaks the rules then they deserve to get suspended, but if it is a minor little thing like just getting a horse running then it should be looked at differently.”
John Gosden, Sir Mark Prescott and Ferdy Murphy were among trainers to express a view on the changes and Prescott said: “The new rules will result in a self-appointed number [of times a horse can be hit] being fragrantly exceeded time and time again, particularly in the bigger, higher-profile events.
“This will further inflame the ‘antis’ – the very people who the rule was designed to placate!”
Professional punter Ken Pitterson, speaking at Kempton on Wednesday night, said: “I think it is a step in the right direction but I still think there is going to be problems with how the stewards interpret the rules. I don’t think you can have a fixed number.”
Don’t miss Thursday’s Racing Post newspaper for more fallout over the latest changes to the whip rules, plus opinion from editor Bruce Millington
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