The BHA has aborted plans to restrict use of the whip in the forehand position, with a number of key elements in the whip review set to be amended following a consultation over Christmas.
The Professional Jockeys Association lobbied the sport's governing body to abandon controversial plans for the whip to be used in the backhand-only position, highlighting welfare concerns raised by riders who had been adapting to the proposed changes. Senior rider Harry Cobden was among many to criticize the rule, calling it "bloody ridiculous".
Of the 20 recommendations proposed by the BHA, it is item four that covers the two main areas of change, with the whip now allowed to be used in the forehand position and the number of strikes permitted brought down by one on each code. A reduction was not part of the original recommendations published in the summer, but jockeys will now be restricted to using the whip seven times over jumps and six on the flat—a drop from eight and seven respectively.
Disqualification will still be implemented if a rider uses the whip four times over the limit, but due to the overall number of strikes decreasing the threshold is now set at 11 and ten respectively. The other major change, an increase to the severity of bans, is viewed by the governing body as a further hardening of one of the original proposals rather than a change.
In a statement released the morning of Jan. 4, the BHA said: "This change follows additional concerns being raised by jockeys in the last few weeks, including some information that was not aired during the consultation or technical discussion phase. This included the feedback that some jockeys who have suffered shoulder or collarbone injuries may find use of the whip solely in the backhand more challenging.
"Following a period of dialogue between the BHA, PJA and jockeys, the BHA board met to consider further representations from all parties, before deliberating and agreeing on the revisions to the rules.
"The objectives of the package of 20 recommendations include developing rules that foster more considered and judicious use of the whip for encouragement and improving the perception of whip use. The BHA board agreed that these objectives could be met equally through either the backhand-only rule, or the reduction in thresholds and increase in penalties announced today, when combined with the full package of measures announced in the summer."
The statement stressed: "These changes do not, in the view of the BHA board, reflect a dilution of the package of rule changes, but instead a method of achieving the same outcomes through a different approach."
The bedding-in period for new rules will start Jan. 9 over jumps, with full implementation on Feb. 6. The corresponding dates for the flat are Feb. 27 and March 27.
The new whip rules were the result of what consultation steering group chair David Jones called "an extremely thorough consultation" over 2021 and 2022, which he said was "arguably the most thorough undertaken by the BHA in relation to any specific regulatory reform in the past".
But explaining the changes announced on Wednesday, he said: "We are committed to listening to our participants, and when further views and information come to light very late in the day, and following the conclusion of that process, we were duty bound to consider it, and make representations to the BHA board accordingly."
BHA chair Joe Saumarez Smith said: "It became clear through the views raised in the last few weeks, and which were presented to the BHA board, that the backhand-only rule could potentially have caused difficulties for some riders. However, in considering making changes it was essential that the BHA board were not doing anything to dilute the outcome of the whip report.
"The BHA board has therefore agreed these further changes, which resolve the issues with the backhand-only rule, but retain the objective of making whip use visibly more palatable to the public, therefore helping to safeguard engagement with the sport amongst our fans present and future. We now hope and expect to see these new rules being respected and a visible change in whip use to be brought about amongst our jockeys and those riding over here.
"The board also expressed the view that the sport should try to avoid any situation arising again whereby, following the conclusion of an extensive consultation process, further pertinent information comes to light. This point has been strongly emphasized to the PJA and we are pleased that the PJA has agreed to review its consultation processes in light of this."
The key changes announced to the new whip rules
- Forehand use of the whip will continue, rather than being outlawed. The original proposals would have restricted it to backhand use.
- Permissible usage of the whip reduces to six strokes on the flat (down from seven) and seven in national hunt races (from eight).
- The penalties for use above the permitted level have been increased beyond those published last November, as have those for offences of misuse. For example, the punishment for using the whip above shoulder height rises from suspension for a minimum two days to four (all penalties doubled in Class 1 or 2 races). Similarly, using the whip without giving a horse time to respond will earn at least a four-day ban (from two) and with excessive force a five-day ban (from three).
