BHA to reassess how new whip rules are being applied in light of riders' concerns

The BHA is set to work with raceday stewards and the whip review committee to reassess how the incoming whip rules are being applied after jockeys voiced growing concerns about which rides were likely to be in breach of the new rules and the potential penalties they would incur.

Since the start of the bedding-in period for the new rules on January 9, jockeys have been informed by stewards on the day which of their rides had been referred for consideration by the new whip review committee, which sits once a week to assess potential breaches of the rules and apply sanctions.

While no penalties are being imposed on jockeys before the new rules come into force on February 13, riders have suggested they have been given an indication at the races of how they have fallen foul of the new rules and what bans they might receive.

The BHA had previously outlined its intentions to publish weekly how many jockeys had been informed by the whip review committee that their rides would have breached the new rules “in the interests of transparency”, but said on Thursday that no details would be published for the last two weeks while conversations about the process took place with officials.

In a statement, the BHA said: “The purpose of the bedding-in period is to identify any practical considerations regarding the new rules and guidance, allow officials to familiarise themselves with the rules and guidance, and jockeys to identify areas where they may be required to adapt their technique ahead of implementation.

“As part of this process we are currently assessing some elements of the existing procedures, which includes the manner in which the rules and guidance are being applied on raceday, and by the whip review committee.

“We are not looking at changes to the specific rules or guidance, but instead how the guidance is being applied. We continue to urge riders to use the bedding-in period to make any necessary adjustments to their riding style in line with the guidance.”

The new whip rules, which were unveiled last July, have been amended once already, with the forehand position reinstated after jockeys said the change to allow backhand-only use was not workable in practice. In exchange, the number of strikes permitted over jumps and on the Flat were dropped by one and penalties ramped up.

A number of riders have since expressed concerns about how the new rules are being interpreted in relation to the whip being used above shoulder height, although the Racing Post understands there is no desire for a ‘VAR-style’ application by stewards or the whip review committee of when the whip is deemed to be above the shoulder, with a common-sense approach the preferred route according to sources familiar with the discussions.

There are concerns on what impact the new whip rules will have on meetings like the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Concerns about the impact of the new whip rules on two of racing’s showpiece events, the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National, have also led to calls for their implementation to be pushed back until later in the spring, with discussions continuing to take place between the BHA and the Professional Jockeys Association about the whip rules during the bedding-in period.

However, with the rules set to come into force on February 13 as it stands, a delegation from the BHA is travelling to the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown this weekend to talk to Irish-based jockeys about the forthcoming changes, with many of the riders likely to experience the amendments for the first time during next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

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