So on Monday, Richard Hughes was handed a 5 day ban for using the whip 6 times in the final furlong (1 above the limit) and Kieran Fox was handed 15 days for using the whip a total of 11 times with 7 instances in the final furlong (he won). Both lost their riding fees and any percentage of the prize money.
These are two jockeys at either end of the spectrum - one established, financially secure and with enough influence to be able to refuse trainer/owner orders to disregard the rules (I can't imagine anyone daring to suggest this to him anyway) and the other is a not so wealthy 3lb claimer very much at the start of his career and who dare not ignore trainer/owner orders (should these ever be given and I'm not suggesting they were) if he wants to be booked again.
Rules are rules and have to be followed in all walks of life but the penalties for not doing appear to be draconian particularly since there has been no "switch-over" period. The whole business appears to be a knee jerk reaction to a very vocal contingent after the Grant National and whilst I accept that change is required, a little more effort taken to educate those who are opposed to horse racing would not have gone amiss in addition. As my daughter pointed out to me, it's perfectly legal to smack your children as many times as you want as long as you don't leave a mark (very wrong but true I'm afraid!).
I sincerely hope that the BHA put the forfeited/seized/relocated £££££s to good use and avoid using it to:
Rules are rules and have to be followed but the penalties for not doing so appear to be draconian particularly since there has been not "switch-over" getting used to it period. The whole business appears to be a knee jerk reaction to a very vocal contingent after the Grant National and whilst I accept that some change is required, a little more effort taken to educate those who are opposed to horse racing would not have gone amiss as well.....God forbid that some of these people ever discover that all horse riders use their heels (which could be construed as 'kicking' the horse) as well!
My fear is that we will see an injury which could be avoided by the corrective use of the whip. I know from experience that a slight tap down the shoulder approaching a jump can mean the difference between the horse and rider going over or just the rider!
These are two jockeys at either end of the spectrum - one established, financially secure and with enough influence to be able to refuse trainer/owner orders to disregard the rules (I can't imagine anyone daring to suggest this to him anyway) and the other is a not so wealthy 3lb claimer very much at the start of his career and who dare not ignore trainer/owner orders (should these ever be given and I'm not suggesting they were) if he wants to be booked again.
Rules are rules and have to be followed in all walks of life but the penalties for not doing appear to be draconian particularly since there has been no "switch-over" period. The whole business appears to be a knee jerk reaction to a very vocal contingent after the Grant National and whilst I accept that change is required, a little more effort taken to educate those who are opposed to horse racing would not have gone amiss in addition. As my daughter pointed out to me, it's perfectly legal to smack your children as many times as you want as long as you don't leave a mark (very wrong but true I'm afraid!).
- pay John McCririck to promote racing (not good)
- stage a competition to find a female commentator (not good)
- fund a website to promote (as well as horseracing) wife-carrying competitions at Bath racecourse (not good ....but very very funny!).
Sheriff of Nottingham - no relation to the BHA
Rules are rules and have to be followed but the penalties for not doing so appear to be draconian particularly since there has been not "switch-over" getting used to it period. The whole business appears to be a knee jerk reaction to a very vocal contingent after the Grant National and whilst I accept that some change is required, a little more effort taken to educate those who are opposed to horse racing would not have gone amiss as well.....God forbid that some of these people ever discover that all horse riders use their heels (which could be construed as 'kicking' the horse) as well!
My fear is that we will see an injury which could be avoided by the corrective use of the whip. I know from experience that a slight tap down the shoulder approaching a jump can mean the difference between the horse and rider going over or just the rider!
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