Leading jockeys fear the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival will be littered with bans over new riding restrictions“As a collective of jockeys, we’re all together,” Nico de Boinville said after winning the first race on Friday, a clear sign that, despite general delight that the card had beaten the frost, there is a storm brewing ahead of the introduction of new whip rules by the British Horseracing Authority in the run-up to Cheltenham’s Festival meeting in March.De Boinville was echoing the view of Harry Cobden, the No 1 jockey to Paul Nicholls, the champion trainer, who described the new rules as “bloody ridiculous” after riding a winner at Taunton on Thursday. Under the new regime, riders will be banned from...
The public has till midnight on Monday to have their say on the whip consultation ordered by the British Horseracing AuthorityThere is still time for racegoers and punters who have yet to contribute to the British Horseracing Authority’s consultation on the whip, which launched on 1 July, to ensure that their voice is heard. But not much. The main public phase of the process – an online questionnaire which can be accessed here – closes at midnight on Monday, before moving on to “detailed discussions with relevant individuals, alongside focus groups with volunteers” ahead of expected publication of a final report with recommendations on rules and penalties early next year.Having completed a submission a few days ago, I would guess...
The British Horseracing Authority have vigorously defended its whip rules and denied claims horses are in painThe British Horseracing Authority have vigorously defended their whip rules following the publication of a column in the Times on Wednesday (£) which claims horses are regularly “thrashed” and “in pain”.Matthew Syed’s article comes under the headline ‘Whipping horses is ruining racing – it must be banned’, in which he concludes: “It is in the interests not only of horses but of racing itself to consign the use of the device for the purposes of increasing speed to the scrapheap of history. It is time to ban the whip.” Related: Stewards given discretion and power to fine jockeys under whip rules Related: Sam Twiston-Davies...