Bookmakers seek clarity on 'far from ideal' whip disqualifications

Bookmakers have called on the BHA to provide more detail around on-the-day disqualification for overuse of the whip fearing it will have a negative impact on punters.

The challenge for bookmakers, particularly those on course, around revised results was noted as one of the practical concerns in the BHA’s much-anticipated whip review as it is not a punishment for all whip offences.

Instead, disqualification will be used in races where jockeys exceed the permitted level of eight strikes over jumps and seven on the Flat by four or more, with the intention being that racecourse stewards make the decision on the day.

That could hinder the operation of bookmakers – on course, in betting shops and online – with firms seeking clarity on how speedily decisions will be made and how the procedure will work.

Simon Clare: 'It might make sense for this disqualification to be deemed after the official result'Credit: Ian Walton

Simon Clare, PR director for Ladbrokes Coral, said: “To anticipate how these new rules will affect racing’s betting customers, and the way we will treat them for bet settlement purposes, we need more information on how this is all going to work in practice, particularly the speed with which a disqualification for a whip offence will be announced in relation to the announcement of the official result.

“It will also be important to get some sense of the likely impact of these rules on rider behaviour as that will determine the frequency of disqualifications. You have to think that the new rules should achieve the desired outcome, as jockeys will not want to be responsible for owners and trainers losing a victory and prize-money, so hopefully disqualifications for whip offences will be very rare.

“Getting answers to these questions will help us understand the likely impact on our customers, and for example whether we include disqualifications for a whip offence as part of our policy on paying double result [where bookmakers pay out on first past the post and a promoted winner]. The last thing we want is for customers to cheer home winners and then lose out as that will impact on the appeal of betting on horseracing versus other sports.

“Given the significance and severity of a potential disqualification for a whip offence, and the potential impact on customers, it might make sense for this disqualification to be deemed after the official result and therefore not impacting on the official result for betting purposes. But that is just one potential approach to dealing with this new rule.”

Barry Orr, head of horseracing PR at Betfair, who offer double result on the firm's Sportsbook, is in agreement with Clare, feeling efficiency will be key and suggesting a specific time limit for a disqualification to be made could work to minimise disruption.

Orr said: “Obviously this is a very important topic and consideration is always with welfare. In terms of betting and specifically Exchange betting, anything which slows the settling of markets, and the recycling of bettor funds is far from ideal.

“As ever, the devil will be in the procedural detail. I suspect that there will be additional resources required to speedily identify and change results. So, a practical implementation, or time-specific amendment period, for betting purposes, could be a consideration?”

John Egan: critical of the proposed disqualification rulesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

John Egan, one of the most experienced riders in the weighing room, cannot see how the disqualification policy will work in practice and fears its implications on punters.

Egan said: “The disqualification rules will not work. The gambling element of the sport keeps the game propped up to a certain extent and can you imagine someone having a big bet on an odds-on shot and the jockey being very timid on it coming to the line – not wanting to go over the limit – and being beaten a short head? There would be uproar and I wouldn’t want to try to explain that to a punter.”

Gold Cup and Grand National-winning rider Mick Fitzgerald believes the current rules for overuse of the whip leave a sour taste for the beaten jockey.

Fitzgerald said: “When jockeys exceed the count and come out on top in a tight finish, it can be a tough one to swallow for whoever is beaten. When I won the Grand National and had to go into the stewards’ inquiry [for possible interference], I was absolutely shitting myself, so if you’re a rider who thinks you might lose a race of that stature for going over the number, you’d think twice.”

Top-level Flat-winning jockey Sean Levey does not expect there to be many instances of riders going over the limit by four or more, adding: “You would rarely see people do that with the rules as they were, so it will be an issue when it does happen, but I’d be surprised if it came around very often.”

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