The British Horseracing Authority's implementation date for the revised whip rules in Jump racing launched on Monday, Feb. 13.
Throughout the bedding-in period, the BHA has worked with the Professional Jockeys' Association and jockeys to identify where improvements could be made to the raceday procedures and the Whip Review Committee process.
This was the purpose of the bedding-in period.
Over the course of this period, the BHA refined the way the Stewards and the Whip Review Committee are assessing rides as part of their operating procedures, to ensure the rules and guidance are being applied proportionately, as intended and within the scope of the guidance. This includes, for example, refined procedures for Stewards and the Whip Review Committee to assist with identifying use of the whip above shoulder height in a proportionate manner.
In addition, the BHA has marginally adjusted the way penalties are calculated to ensure they will also be applied proportionately. This includes ensuring that only offences for use of the whip above the permitted level are being doubled in Class 1 and 2 races (noting that the vast majority of all pre-reform whip offences were for above permitted level), and a tweak to how offences are aggregated where multiple offences are committed in the same ride.
The BHA is grateful for the input of the PJA, NTF and a number of senior riders and trainers and, as a result of that collaboration, the new rules and guidance will be implemented in the manner in which they were intended – to deliver more considered and judicious use of the whip.
The Whip Review Committee has also today published the findings of its review of rides from the period Jan. 30 – Feb. 5, details of which can be found here: WRC_decisions_070223.pdf (britishhorseracing.com)
There were only two breaches of the rules under the existing guidance, the same as last week.
It is clear that the bedding-in process has been beneficial and jockeys have made significant changes in riding style. They deserve great credit for responding to the challenge of new rules. It has also allowed officials to familiarize themselves with how to implement the new rules.
A BHA spokesperson said:
“The rules being implemented on Monday are the result of a detailed consultation process designed to foster more considered and judicious use of the whip.
“They are being introduced after an extensive bedding-in period which has successfully allowed jockeys and officials to familiarise themselves with the new rules and guidance and identify where improvements can be made to their implementation, or where some jockeys might need to adapt their riding style. This was the purpose of the bedding-in period.
“We are grateful for the input of the PJA, NTF and a number of senior riders and trainers and we have now reached a position where the new rules and guidance will be implemented in the manner in which they were intended.
“We were pleased to note jockeys stating that the responsibility now rests on them to ride within the new rules and adapt their riding style where necessary. We have already seen this happening during the bedding-in period, for which jockeys deserve great credit.”
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