The review formed part of the ongoing dialogue and meetings between the BHA, Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and a group of senior jockeys which has been in place since prior to the introduction of the new rules and which has resulted in a number of previous alterations.

Regulations concerning whip use underwent significant changes earlier this year, with the numbers of strikes allowed in Flat and jumps races reduced to six and seven respectively, with a tougher penalty structure for those in breach, including doubled suspensions for major races and disqualification in the most serious of cases.

Among the most recent changes, a single strike over the permitted level by a Flat rider may see the minimum penalty of four days reduced to three days if they have had 100 or more British rides since a previous offence, or two days if they have had 200 or more rides.

Races which incur a double penalty have also been revised and will now apply to all class one races and any class two contest with total prize money of £150,000 or more, or any class two race restricted to apprentices, conditionals or amateur jockeys only.

Additionally, four offences of use above the permitted level in a six-month period will now result in a referral under the 'totting up' procedure, while the top end of the penalty range had been reduced from six months to four. It will remain the case that a rider will be referred to the BHA's judicial panel if they commit five offences of any type in a six-month period.

Sam Angell, chair of the Whip Review Committee, said, “These changes reflect an ongoing process to improve the new whip rules and penalties, while retaining the original objectives, which are to ensure more judicious use of the whip for encouragement, improve the perceptions of whip use and ensure that the outcomes of races are fair.”

Data released by the BHA shows that in the last six months in a total of 37,428 rides, 425 cases were referred to the WRC with 360 breaches–equating to less than one per cent of rides.

For a complete outline of the most recent changes to whip rules, click here.

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There has been ongoing communication between the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), senior jockeys under both codes and the BHA, and the rule adjustments are the result.

“We are very grateful to the PJA and to our jockeys, both for the manner in which they continue to adapt to riding under the new rules, and their constructive engagement with the process which has helped bring about these further improvements,” said Brant Dunshea, Chief Regulatory Officer for the BHA. “We will continue to liaise with the PJA and jockeys as we continue the roll-out and embedding of the new rules.”

As a result of this constructive dialogue and the BHA's monitoring of bedding-in period and implementation, the changes are below:

1. Repeat Offences:

• The repeat offenses rule has been change so that Any jockey will be referred to the Independent Judicial Panel following their third above permitted level-only offence within a six-month period.
• However, a jockey will not be referred to the Independent Judicial Panel after just three 'technical' offences.
• Instead, once a jockey commits five offences of any type (this can be a combination of above permitted level and other misuse offences) within a six-month period they will be referred to the Independent Judicial Panel.
• Should a jockey be referred for either three above permitted level offences or five offences of any type, then these offences drop off their referral record so a jockey cannot be referred twice for the same offence

2. Suspension dates: All suspensions imposed by the WRC should start 14-days from its written decision. Having been through the bedding-in period, and with suspensions now being imposed, the PJA and its members have asked to have the option to serve a suspension as if imposed by stewards on a raceday. Therefore, jockeys in receipt of a notice of suspension from the WRC will now have the option of requesting that the suspension commences 14 days after the date of the referral by the stewards, should they not wish to appeal the penalty. Otherwise the suspension will be served 14 days from the date of the WRC decision.
3. Riding fees: The rule has now been changed such that should a rider be disqualified from a race due to excessive use of the whip they will also forfeit their riding fee.
4. Whip Review Committee meetings: The Whip Review Committee (WRC) will now switch to meeting twice a week rather than once, with meet rides considered: Tuesday, Previous Thursday – Sunday and Friday, Previous Monday – Wednesday.
5. Without regard to stride: References to the misuse offence 'Without Regard to Stride' (double strike) have been removed from the Whip Guidance. Offences of this nature will now instead be categorised as Without Time to Respond.

For more information, please visit the BHA website.

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The position is new within The Thoroughbred Group as the organisation develops its remit to provide representation of its five members under UK racing's new industry structure–the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), the Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA), the National Association of Racing Staff (NARS), the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and the National Trainers Federation (NTF).

“We are pleased that Jack has agreed to join us as we seek to develop the role of the Thoroughbred Group at industry level,” said Thoroughbred Group Chair Charlie Parker. “We are confident that his analytical expertise and previous experience working with industry stakeholders will make him a great asset to us.”

Added Connor, “I'm delighted to be joining the Thoroughbred Group at this pivotal time for the sport. I'm very much looking forward to working closely with the five participant bodies and their members as we help shape and deliver on the industry's strategy.”

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The extension, requested by jockeys and the PJA, was granted on account of the number of cancelled fixtures last week due to the frozen ground. The full implementation of the new rules for Jumps racing will begin on Feb. 13. The start of the bedding-in period for Flat racing remains Feb. 27, as does the Mar. 27 full implementation date for Flat racing.

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The Racing Post reported on Monday that the BHA, in consultation with its fixtures and funding group comprised by racing's stakeholders, is working on a proposal to reduce the 2023 fixture list by around 300 races. To put that in context, a total of 10,354 races were run in Britain in 2021.

It is hardly surprising that such measures are being considered given the notably small field sizes of late, with an average just fractionally above eight runners per race run for the first four months of 2022. Indeed, last season a number of 2-year-old races were cut from the programme in response to a smaller number of juveniles in training than had been anticipated.

Representative bodies for trainers and jockeys–the National Trainers Federation  and Professional Jockeys Association respectively–have reported that their members are largely in favour of the proposed reduction, while the Racehorse Owners Association chief executive Charlie Liverton is reserving judgement until the analysis of the fixtures and funding group has been completed.

The proposal, which is by no means set in stone at this stage, has also found favour with Nevin Truesdale, chief executive of the Jockey Club, which owns 15 racecourses, including Newmarket, Cheltenham and Sandown. But his comment to the Racing Post that “anyone with the best long-term interests of our sport at heart can see that some form of action needs to be taken” provoked a heated exchange of views with his opposite number at Arena Racing Company (ARC), Martin Cruddace, who countered that the BHA proposal could cost the sport up to £4 million in lost revenue.

“The changes would come in at the start of 2023 but the fixture process for next year starts soon. We have a few more weeks to come to a final decision,” said the BHA's chief operating officer Richard Wayman

“We want a race programme that is better matched to the horse population. There are times of the year when the programme doesn't service the population very well. So this proposal identifies the times of the year when there are particular issues. For example, we are not going to start messing about with the autumn when there are loads of horses to run on the Flat. This is a targeted approach, and what would happen is that the number of programmed races would be reduced during a particular period. It isn't every fixture–it would only be at meetings where the prize-money is £100,000 or less–and the racecourse, in consultation with the BHA, would decide which race to drop, say from a seven-race card to make it a six-race card. The suggestion that this is targeting the lower-grade races is erroneous. It could actually be the Class 3 race on a particular card that is struggling to attract runners.”

Wayman was also keen to stress the potential flexibility the proposal would give the race planners.

He added, “What has got slightly lost in the coverage is that alongside the removal of races at particular times of the year, we are proposing to introduce a more liberal divisions policy, so that if the demand is there we will divide more races. We're trying to be responsible with the race programme by cutting it back where there's too much racing, but at the same time recognising that we can respond when there is large demand for certain types of races.”

While on the surface the prospect of fewer races suggests fewer opportunities for jockeys, the bigger problem–for racecourses, punters and riders–is that which is presented by the current small field sizes.

The PJA's interim chief executive Dale Gibson explained, “This is a hot topic in the weighing-room at the moment. The overall opinion is that the riders support the proposal. We did see some trimming last summer of some 70-odd 2-year-old races.

“Personally, I fear for field sizes during those pinch points in the summer if we had a very dry spell when there are so many meetings. Especially if you are travelling a long way to a meeting  and owners and trainers have to look at the whole economics of it–rising fuel costs and staff costs.”

He added, “The riders feel we have to do something now for next year, and it will not just be a case of cutting Class 5 or 6 races, there has to be a balance. The problem of small field sizes is high on the PJA agenda.”

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of a depletion of British-trained horses in the rating band of 70 to 100, with demand from overseas buyers being high, both through public auctions and private sales. Wayman says that is backed up by the BHA's figures.

“There has been a drop,” he confirms. “We know the horse population, and what it is by rating, and you can see that there has been a reduction in that middle- to upper-tier horse. The bottom is generally pretty robust at the moment, and so is the very top, but that upper-middle tier is where you see the reduction. That issue has been exacerbated by the fact that we've been putting on more races for that group of horses in the last year or two. The Racing League and the Sunday Series are really focused on those Class 3 to 4 handicaps, but the hope in doing that is that owners will be encouraged to keep hold of that level of horse.”

Owner and breeder Colin Bryce is not convinced that the proposed reduction in race numbers will have a significant impact on racing's longer-term health.

“It's such a difficult issue because there are so many different interest groups that have different reasons for wanting or not wanting more racing,” he said. “My view is that changing race numbers is a reaction–it's not a solution to anything. For me, it returns to the whole problem of there not being enough prize-money, so there are not enough owners. Too many horses bred at lower levels are not finding owners, so breeders are not making any money. The whole system is flawed, and it all goes back to the lack of prize-money, and there's a lack of horses because of that.”

He continued, “So the reaction to that, not the solution, is to reduce the number of races. And there's probably a logical argument for that. But the breeding industry and certain elements of the Racecourse Association would probably have a different view. Cutting 300 races is just a minor, micro reaction to the issue of how racing needs to develop, and unfortunately given the governance structure of racing it is difficult to get to a point when you can implement some of these strategies.”

While the BHA's proposal hints at a more reactive approach to race programming, trainer Stuart Williams feels this could go further still.

“You have the races that we need for the programme that supports the breed–the stakes races–and they are where they are,” he said. “All the other races are dependent on what horses are available at the time, and it wouldn't be that difficult for [trainers] every month to go down a list and say which horses are available for the next three months and which are going to be off for a while. Then the BHA has a dynamic programme that they can fit around those horses.

“But the racecourses seem to go off on their own deciding that a certain race would be good to put on, not caring that there's a similar race nearby three days later. No wonder people don't turn up, or pick and choose the ones they want to run in.”

He added, “The two people who put by far the most into racing are the owners–and you can couple those with the breeders–and then the punters, and I think we are doing a pretty poor job on the whole of looking after both of their interests at the moment.”

With the fixture process for the 2023 racing programme close to commencing, Wayman indicated that consultation regarding the proposed reduction in races is ongoing and that a decision will be reached in June.

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Chair of the PJA Jon Holmes, said “There was strong interest in the position from inside and outside the industry, and Ian was interviewed by several members of the board, who came to the unanimous decision that he had the experience and skill set to take the association forward at this important stage. He will work alongside Dale, who has been a tower of strength in his role as interim CEO.”

Flat Jockey President, PJ Macdonald, said, “I was impressed by Ian's passion and enthusiasm, when I spoke to him and would like to extend a warm welcome to him.”

Jumps President David Bass, also welcomed the appointment and hopes that Ian will “build on the good work of Paul Struthers and Dale Gibson and continue recent progress with riding fees and facilities made by the association.”

McMahon said, “I am very excited to have been given this opportunity to work at the association, and very much look forward to the challenge.”

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In an excerpt from a joint statement issued Tuesday by The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), National Trainers Federation (NTF), Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), National Association of Racing Staff (NARS), Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and Racecourse Association (RCA):

“It is essential that horseracing remains a progressive, modern industry when it comes to the conduct of our people. We must prioritize the wellbeing and development of our workforce, stand against discrimination of any kind in British racing, and invest in making racing a safe, fulfilling place to work…We must encourage a culture of openness and seek to support anyone who faces problems or has found themselves in difficulty. We must promote a culture of respect in how those involved in racing interact with one another and promote more diversity and inclusion at all levels of the industry.”

All groups will take part in a working party which will report to the industry People Board and will assist in promoting the positive elements of conduct within the industry, education, deterring poor behaviour and discrimination while empowering people to call out conduct which falls short. The group will be chaired by the BHA and include representatives from the BHA, NTF, NARS, PJA, RCA, ROA and TBA.

The working party and resultant action lead the effort to introduce a new industry Code of Conduct, which will introduced in Spring 2022. The Code of Conduct has been developed by the signatories, who are also signatories of British racing's Diversity and Inclusion industry commitment. Among the working party's chief objectives is to ensure that the new Code of Conduct is properly communicated in addition to the introduction of the sport's new Safeguarding policy and regulations, which are also close to being finalized.

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Initially introduced as part of measures designed to ensure racing's safe return behind closed doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the protocol has been extended after consultation with jockeys and other stakeholders. The move was approved by the BHA board and applies to jockeys under both codes to ride at only one meeting per day.

Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer of the BHA, said, “Jockeys played a key role in ensuring racing's return in 2020 was a success, adapting to a new way of working in unusual circumstances while still producing at the highest level on the track.

“It is our job to do everything we can to ensure the welfare of our jockeys and it has become clear over the last year that the overwhelming majority of jockeys appreciate no longer competing at multiple meetings per day, and having to contend with the physical and mental pressures this placed upon them.”

Dale Gibson, Executive Director (Racing) of the PJA, said, “Horseracing is incredibly demanding on trainers, jockeys and racing staff, particularly given the size of the fixture list. When you factor in early morning work, extensive mileage, financial uncertainty and the significant physical and mental challenges of being a jockey, it's arguably the most challenging of professional sports for an athlete.

“The PJA conducted a comprehensive jockey welfare survey earlier this year, with almost half the membership responding. The one meeting a day rule was one area we asked members about. The clear message, particularly from Flat jockeys, was that there had been significant benefits to Jockeys from the rule, which for most outweighed any negatives and that the majority, including 72% of Flat jockeys, wanted the rule to remain.

“Based on the survey results, the PJA board had no hesitation in asking the BHA to take this step, and I am sure that the vast majority of the membership will be pleased that it remains in place throughout 2022.”

PJA Joint President PJ McDonald added, “I am very pleased that the one meeting protocol has been extended, and believe strongly that it will benefit the long-term physical and mental health of riders competing today and in the future. This will allow us to achieve a better work-life balance, which is so important whatever your profession.”

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In March of 2021, an inquiry into the links between sport and long-term brain injury, the implications for youth sport and funding for further scientific research was announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Also under consideration during the four oral evidence sessions that made up the inquiry was the role of national governing bodies and major sporting organisations. The DCMS committee made a number of key recommendations, including the development of a UK-wide minimum standard definition of concussion to be used across all sport. The Health and Safety Executive have been told to work with sports governing bodies to set up a new reporting framework for sports injury by July 2022, with sports required to report any event that might lead to an acquired brain injury within a year of that.

“We very much welcome the DCMS inquiry and the recommendations that have been published in their 'Concussion in Sport' report today,” PJA Chief Executive Paul Struthers told the committee. “Their recommendations to establish a UK-wide minimum standard definition for concussion that all sports must use and adapt for their sport, a UK wide minimum standard protocol for concussion, a national framework for the reporting of sporting injuries and a single research fund that will coordinate and fund research are particularly important.

“We have been fortunate that racing has been ahead of the game in many ways, thanks to the work of the British Horseracing Authority and its predecessors, and especially racing's former Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Michael Turner and his successor Dr. Jerry Hill.

“However, it is vital that we continue to work closely with the BHA and Dr. Hill to ensure racing's protocols, support, education, advice and aftercare continue to be fit for purpose and serve to protect our members as much as possible.

“We also look forward to working with government, Professional Players Federation members and other stakeholders to ensure these recommendations are implemented.”

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Organisations that have signed on to the Industry Commitment are: the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Racecourse Association (RCA), Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA), National Trainers Federation (NTF), Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), National Association of Racing Staff (NARS) and Great British Racing (GBR). There are five areas that underpin the Industry Commitment and each organisations will former their individual Diversity and Inclusion Action Plans:

• Leadership and Accountability–industry leaders ensuring and taking accountability for the creation of a more diverse and inclusive sport
• Good Governance–ensuring a better understanding of the racing landscape to influence policy, practice and procedures
• Education and Awareness Raising–giving everyone across racing access to learning about diversity and inclusion and why they're important to the sport
• Celebrating Racing's Diversity–showcasing the diversity that exists across the racing industry in order to create an inclusive sport where difference is embraced, and everyone is valued
• Engaging New Audiences–promoting racing as a sport for all and encouraging diverse communities to take part

Annamarie Phelps, Chair of British Horseracing Authority, said: “This is an important step forward for the sport. We have so much to celebrate in British racing, including men and women being able to compete on a level playing field. Equally, it is the responsibility of all of us in the sport to ensure we can showcase British racing as a modern sport which is truly diverse, inclusive and open to all. Being proactive about improving diversity is essential to the long-term viability of the sport, but first and foremost it is absolutely the right thing to do.”

For more information on the Industry Commitment, please visit www.media.britishhorseracing.com.

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