Wednesday Selections (so far) are:
The BHA have announced new and more stringent whip rules due be implemented from the 10 October!
In a nutshell, a jockey can 'hit' no more than 7 times during a flat race and 8 times during a jumps race. In both, the whip should not be used more than 5 times in the final furlong. Now, I may have misunderstood but I understand that a jockey is allowed to use the whip one more time in the Grand National than in a 5f sprint.....hmmmmm??? It's the 0.22 'hits' per furlong in 1 race but the 1.4 'hits' per furlong in another that most perplexes! Wouldn't a certain number of 'hits' or percentage of a 'hit' per furlong have been more sensible?
Now the punishments for the jockeys! Excessive use (i.e. more frequent use of the whip than quoted above) have a minimum 5 day ban (previously the minimum possible for this offence was a mere caution). Bans of 3+ days will mean forfeiture of the riding fee and prize money percentage so hitting in excess of the new rules mean no £££s. If a horse hangs and impedes another's progress then what does the jockey do if all 7 or 8 'hits' have been used up and the horse (or more exactly the horse's path) needs correcting? Since this happens more often as not towards the end of a race then it could mean the difference between a win or place. Devil and deep blue sea springs to mind!
Owners and trainers will not be penalised unless they are found to have reimbursed a jockey in breach of the rules of any forfeited fees/prize money. There'll be some interesting conflicts of interest then?
There is not truth in the rumour that Tony Culhane has contacted the BHA to ask if air shots count as a whip strike nor of certain jockeys asking that the maximum number of hits be lowered to five or less so that they don't have to change whip hand to continue counting above this number.
to be honest, I don't think I'd be able to keep count with the adrenaline pumping in an important race - I'm sure that some enterprising soul has already come up with a red LED at the end of the whip to light up once the set numbers of 'hit's have been reached.....if they haven't then I should have patented the idea before writing this......
And as a postscript to this outpouring of rantiness, it is very hard to hurt or even mark a horse with the air cushioned whips that are used in racing these days. If I had to have my arm hit with one 7 or 8 times to prove this I would do so without much fear of pain! However, certain sections of the great British public (the same section who complain now that foxes now climb stairs in suburban homes and attack babies because their fear of humans is being eradicated) need to be appeased and I can fully understand why the BHA have to be seen to address this issue.
Salisbury
15:00 Rock The Stars (6.8) UP (4th)
15:00 Rock The Stars (6.8) UP (4th)
Kempton
19:10 Millyluvstoboogie (10) UP (4th)
21:10 Zelos Diktator (4.7) UP (you've guessed it...4th)
Although this is the system selection, I have to confess to a liking - reinforced by the trainer's confidence - for Fifty Cents 1st in this race although the draw tempers enthusiasm a tad. I dearly hope this horse is called Fiddy at home!!
With good old Fiddy winning (Fallon had a treble today!) a +0.77 profit
Although this is the system selection, I have to confess to a liking - reinforced by the trainer's confidence - for Fifty Cents 1st in this race although the draw tempers enthusiasm a tad. I dearly hope this horse is called Fiddy at home!!
With good old Fiddy winning (Fallon had a treble today!) a +0.77 profit
The BHA have announced new and more stringent whip rules due be implemented from the 10 October!
In a nutshell, a jockey can 'hit' no more than 7 times during a flat race and 8 times during a jumps race. In both, the whip should not be used more than 5 times in the final furlong. Now, I may have misunderstood but I understand that a jockey is allowed to use the whip one more time in the Grand National than in a 5f sprint.....hmmmmm??? It's the 0.22 'hits' per furlong in 1 race but the 1.4 'hits' per furlong in another that most perplexes! Wouldn't a certain number of 'hits' or percentage of a 'hit' per furlong have been more sensible?
Now the punishments for the jockeys! Excessive use (i.e. more frequent use of the whip than quoted above) have a minimum 5 day ban (previously the minimum possible for this offence was a mere caution). Bans of 3+ days will mean forfeiture of the riding fee and prize money percentage so hitting in excess of the new rules mean no £££s. If a horse hangs and impedes another's progress then what does the jockey do if all 7 or 8 'hits' have been used up and the horse (or more exactly the horse's path) needs correcting? Since this happens more often as not towards the end of a race then it could mean the difference between a win or place. Devil and deep blue sea springs to mind!Owners and trainers will not be penalised unless they are found to have reimbursed a jockey in breach of the rules of any forfeited fees/prize money. There'll be some interesting conflicts of interest then?
There is not truth in the rumour that Tony Culhane has contacted the BHA to ask if air shots count as a whip strike nor of certain jockeys asking that the maximum number of hits be lowered to five or less so that they don't have to change whip hand to continue counting above this number.to be honest, I don't think I'd be able to keep count with the adrenaline pumping in an important race - I'm sure that some enterprising soul has already come up with a red LED at the end of the whip to light up once the set numbers of 'hit's have been reached.....if they haven't then I should have patented the idea before writing this......
And as a postscript to this outpouring of rantiness, it is very hard to hurt or even mark a horse with the air cushioned whips that are used in racing these days. If I had to have my arm hit with one 7 or 8 times to prove this I would do so without much fear of pain! However, certain sections of the great British public (the same section who complain now that foxes now climb stairs in suburban homes and attack babies because their fear of humans is being eradicated) need to be appeased and I can fully understand why the BHA have to be seen to address this issue.
Now here's a jockey who didn't use his whip at all in the last furlong.....
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