whip use | Horse Racing Free Tips

Whip Rules Amended Again by BHA

Following a six-month review of the whip rules, penalty structure and process, additional adjustments have been implemented by the British Horseracing Authority.

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.

The post Whip Rules Amended Again by BHA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Jan. 31-Feb. 6

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

California

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 02/03/2023

Licensee: Eoin Harty

Penalty: $3,000 fine

Violation: Out-of-competition joint injection violation

Explainer: Trainer Eoin Harty, who trains the horse El Joy, is fined $3,000.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1866.3(c)(e) (Intra-articular Injections Restricted – treatment within 10 days of workout).

Harty told the TDN he will be appealing the ruling for various reasons, including for a career training record absent any prior medication violations (this is confirmed in the Thoroughbred Rulings website).

New York

Track: Aqueduct

Date: 02/02/2023

Licensee: Suzanne Zelman, racing official/official veterinarian

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Lasix administration violation

Explainer: You are hereby fined the sum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars for failing to tend to business in a proper manner necessitating the scratch of horse “Bustinupishardtodo” (# 8) from the eighth race at Aqueduct Racetrack on January 27th 2023.

According to New York Racing Association (NYRA) spokesperson Pat McKenna, the fine was for a failure to administer Lasix to the horse in question resulting in a mandatory scratch.

Kentucky

Track: Turfway Park

Date: 02/01/2023

Licensee: Eric Reed, trainer

Penalty: Five-day suspension, $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: Upon receipt of notification from The University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, the official testing laboratory for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, sample number R005087 taken from Golden Text, who finished first in the fourth race at Turfway Park on January 19, 2023 contained phenylbutazone at a level of 0.62 mcg/ml in blood (Class C) (2nd offense in 365 days). After waiving his right to a formal hearing before the Board of Stewards, Eric Reed is hereby suspended 5 days, February 10, 2023 through February 14, 2023 (inclusive) and fined $1,000.

French Whip Use Reduced By One Strike Beginning On May 1

The number of strikes with the whip a jockey is allowed to use over jumps and on the Flat in France has been reduced from five to four beginning on May 1, France Galop announced on Wednesday.

There will be an educational and transitional period from Mar. 1 to Apr. 30 to allow jockeys to acclimate to the new regulations. The sanctions currently in place regarding overuse of the whip will be applied through Apr. 30. The aim is to gradually reduce the use of the whip, and the system will be reviewed at the end of 2023.

The following are specifications that apply to the manner and the number of times a whip can be used:

Using the whip on the shoulder or neck of the horse when the jockey does not have both hands on the reins counts towards the permitted number of strikes.
It is at the discretion of the stewards to decide if a jockey has used his/her whip clearly and unequivocally for safety reasons (correcting the horse's trajectory) rather than misused it.
The stewards will consider it a misuse offence (according to article 171 of the Racing Code) when a jockey uses his/her whip one or more times even though his/her mount was no longer able to improve or was out of contention (it is a misuse even if the jockey has used his/her whip below the authorised number).
Using the whip above shoulder height is considered a misuse offence.

Increased penalties will come into effect on May 1, as well, with specific penalties applying to group races. For the full details regarding penalties for whip offences after the new rules come into effect, and for more information on the new rules, please go to the France Galop website.

The post French Whip Use Reduced By One Strike Beginning On May 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, January 17-23

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

New York

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 01/18/2023
Licensee: Manuel Franco
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Mid-race interference
Explainer: For having waived his right to an appeal Jockey Mr. Manuel Franco is hereby suspended for 3 NYRA racing days January 20th 2023, January 21st 2023, January 22nd 2023 inclusive. This for interference during the running of the seventh race at Aqueduct Racetrack on January 12th 2023 causing his horse ” Spiked” to be disqualified from first and placed third.

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 01/19/2023
Licensee: Michelle Giangiulio, trainer
Penalty: Ten-day suspension, $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Having received a report from the NYS Gaming Commission Drug Testing Laboratory of the finding of Phenylbutazone in the post-race sample taken from horse ” Eight and Sand ” (#10) which raced at Aqueduct racetrack in the 9th race and finished 1st on December 11th 2022. Trainer of record Ms. Michelle Giangiulio having been notified of the post-race findings and having waived her right to an appeal, is hereby fined the sum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars and suspended 10 Calendar days effective January 20th 2023, through January 29th 2023, inclusive. Furthermore, the Stewards order horse “Eight and Sand” disqualified from any part of the purse and the purse redistributed as follows:

1. (#12) Itsalittlebitfunny
2. (#3) Reunion Tour
3. (#6) Our Son Jake
4. (#7) Tiza Brown
5. (#11) Escape Mission
6. (#9) Patrick the Great
7. (#4) Dancing with Rico
8. (#1) Uncle Bruce
9. (#2) Hereby
10.(#8) Red Jet
11.(#5) Chief Engineer

Ordered that during your period of suspension, you shall not directly or indirectly participate in New York State Pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privileges and use of the grounds of all racetracks, you are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payment. Every horse is denied the privileges of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that (a) is owned or trained by you, or by individuals who serves as your agent or employee during your suspension: or (b) for which you during your suspension are directly or indirectly with training, including any arrangements to care for, train, enter, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments, manage funds, employ or insure workers, provide advice or other information or otherwise assist with any aspect of the training of such horses.

NEW HISA STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal, except for the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Violations of Crop Rule

Aqueduct

Gherson (Jason) Huayas – violation date January 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes

Abner Perez Adorno – violation date January 20; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Golden Gate Fields

Silvio Amador – violation date January 16; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Julien H Couton – violation date January 21; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Gulfstream Park

Jorge Espitia – violation date January 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Santa Anita

Frankie Dettori – violation date January 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Victor Espinoza – violation date January 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes

The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, January 17-23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post