The Professional Jockeys Association warned in 2017 that stop-race procedures were inadequate but no action was taken
If there is one lesson for racing’s ruling body to learn from its defeat at the hands of the Sandown Seven on Tuesday, it is the importance of taking seriously any concerns expressed by the Professional Jockeys Association. This is a lesson that might have been learned three years ago, when the “perceptions of bias” stramash ended up costing the BHA £425,000 in cold, hard cash, as well as a portion of its reputation for competence, more than a year after the PJA had warned of exactly the chicken that came home to roost.
It can be argued that something similar has happened over stop-race procedures, as it emerged during Tuesday’s appeal hearing that the PJA had asked for changes in 2017, following an incident at Perth. Paul Struthers, its chief executive, wanted the colour of the stop flags changed, because it was too similar to the fluorescent bibs worn by some fence attendants and its import might therefore be missed by a jockey in mid-race. He also wanted more flags to be deployed.
Related: Sandown seven cleared after ‘flag not waved in sufficiently showy manner’
Related: Talking Horses: female jockeys 'may wait 100 years for equal opportunity'
Lingfield 12.10 Agent Of Fortune 12.40 Broughton Sunpearl 1.10 Little Miss Lilly 1.45 Griggy (nb) 2.15 Shimmering 2.50 The Jean Genie 3.20 Guroor
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