Backhand use only and disqualification to be introduced in new whip rules

Britain's jockeys will have to make fundamental changes to the way they use the whip within a matter of months following the unexpected news that a review group has decided to ask for a ban on whip use in the forehand position.

It was one of 20 recommendations by the Whip Consultation Steering Group, set up last year, which were published on Tuesday, having already been approved by the BHA's board.

As was suggested by a leak last week, disqualification is to be introduced as the ultimate sanction in cases of extreme breaches of the whip rules, although officials would be delighted if they never have to use that power. It will be available for all races, not just high-profile ones, as was mooted by the leak.

An innovation is the creation of a whip review panel which will take most of the responsibility for enforcement action from raceday stewards. Penalties for breaches are to be increased and will be especially stiff in major races, at double the level set for standard races. Totting-up bans will be triggered by three breaches in a six-month period, rather than five as at present.

The aim is for the recommendations to be incorporated into racing's rules by late autumn but David Jones, a BHA director who chaired the group, was careful to avoid being tied down to a specific date as he addressed a press conference. A detailed implementation plan is to be developed, making time for training of jockeys and stewards and allowing for a bedding-in period before the new rules will be applied in earnest. Jones believes there is nothing to be gained by rushing and more time will be allowed for that process if necessary.

Tom Scudamore: estimates that 70 per cent of his current whip use is in the forehand positionCredit: Edward Whitaker

While the changes are more significant than many in racing will have anticipated, the steering group's hope is that they will take the heat out of the issue for many years and satisfy most of the sport's critics that it is serious about its responsibilities to the horse. "It's really key for us to show that we really want to make a difference and this is a serious issue," Jones said. "It was right at the heart of what we wanted to do, to show that we were not just tinkering."

Jump jockey Tom Scudamore, who served on the steering group alongside his Flat colleague PJ McDonald, estimates that 70 per cent of his current whip use is in the forehand position, an indication of the impact the new rules will have on some riders. But he was confident that his friends and rivals in the weighing room would make the necessary effort to change.

"It's the same with any sport, you have to adjust," he said. "I think my colleagues will see in this case that it's for the benefit of the sport and anything that's for the benefit of the sport, they'll go along with.

"It's the same in any sport. If you're a defender in football, you could get away with a lot more before VAR than you can now."

The risk of the whip striking a horse with excessive force is thought to be less when it is used in the backhand position, which was also described in the review as "neater and more stylish" than forehanded use. Scudamore cited Willie Carson as a jockey who made excellent use of the whip in the backhand position.

"Watching the old videos of him, I can't remember seeing him using it in the forehand," he said. "He was a fine example of what we're looking towards. He always seemed to use it in the right place, even though his reach wasn't exactly as long as mine."

Noble Yeats: would have been disqualified from the Grand National under the new rulesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Horses will be disqualified if their jockey has used the whip four or more times more than the limit for that type of race, with discretion allowed to the stewards to discount instances of whip use down the shoulder with both hands on the reins, or if needed for safety. Jones was pressed as to how the group had settled on the figure of four over the limit as a suitable trigger.

"You have to have lines in life, don't you?" he said. "Part of our thinking was that zero tolerance would be difficult because you might go one over and just not realise it.

"We felt that four was definitely egregious use. We felt that was a 'win at all costs' kind of ride. Don't forget that penalties for going one or two over in a major race are significant."

There was some encouragement for the sport from Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare and a member of the steering group, who said: "I think there's great confidence in the group that this is a set of recommendations that can work." However, he later said the changes did not go far enough to satisfy WHW, which wants an end to whip use for encouragement.

The steering group did not include a representative of the betting industry but Brant Dunshea, the BHA's chief regulatory officer, said it had heard from bookmakers and punters during the consultation process and had reflected on whether these changes would have an impact on turnover. He said there was no clear evidence either way from countries that had gone through similar changes.

Dunshea added that efforts will be made to reach jockeys based in Ireland and France, to explain the new regime before they ride in Britain.

The core recommendations

• Use of the whip for encouragement to be limited to the backhand position only
• Permitted level for use to remain at seven on the Flat, eight over jumps, in the backhand only
• Development of a review panel which is responsible for evaluation of all rides and any necessary sanction or action (including directing jockeys to further training)
• Increased penalties for offences, including doubled suspensions in major races when the whip is used above the permitted level
• Disqualification introduced for offences in which the whip has been used four times or more above the permitted level in all races

---

Read these next:

Reaction: 'It does not go far enough' – charity criticises whip review despite involvement

Reaction: bookmakers seek clarity on 'far from ideal' whip disqualifications

Reaction: 'It's going to feel foreign to some' – jockeys react to backhand whip ruling

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday