Everything for
horse & rider

World Horse Welfare is deeply disappointed with the adjustments to the whip rules announced today by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), particularly the weakening of the penalty structure.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said: “We have said throughout the review that it is important for any penalty structure to be aimed at changing the behaviour of jockeys as well as trainers and owners. The rules and the penalties have now been weakened, which must decrease their chances of working. We will be watching closely to see if the rules are followed, enforced and result in a major reduction in the number of whip offences.”

The charity is also dismayed that the Authority has chosen to allow jump racing jockeys to whip horses eight times after the last jump instead of the previous limit of six.

“We accept that the BHA has decided to remove the limit on the use of the whip in the final stages of flat racing in response to jockeys’ claims that they may not know precisely when they have entered the final furlong. However, we do not see why the limit should be removed for jump racing as there is no ambiguity here at all. Our concern is, especially at the end of what can be a long race, that we will once again have the spectre of jockeys repeatedly whipping exhausted horses.”

The charity is however pleased that the Authority has retained an element of denying jockeys their percentage of any prize money if they break the rules. Roly Owers said: “It is unfortunate that this has been watered down, but we appreciate that a significant financial deterrent for jockeys that overuse the whip remains. We feel that by hitting the pockets of the minority who do so will make them think twice before they use their whip. No one should profit at the expense of the horse.

“If these rules do not change behaviours and attitudes of all those directly involved in racing, we see no other choice but to call for a move to hands and heels racing, with the whip used only for safety.”