Richard Hughes quits over new five-day ban

Read in racing post that Moore has also called for the rules to go back to what they were so hope common sense will prevail? Plus what about the champion stakes!

THREE-TIME champion jockey Ryan Moore became the latest jockey to speak out against the new whip rules on Wednesday evening, stating his discontent with the whole situation and calling for a return to the old rules.

Contradicting a statement released earlier in the day by PJA chief executive Kevin Darley, stating that the jockeys were in favour of reducing the number of strikes permitted under the old rules, Moore called the limit of seven "too low".

"In my view these new whip rules won't work," Moore said. "Everyone came out and said it was for the good of the sport without really thinking what it meant before everything got out of control.

"It is ruining the sport, Kevin [Darley] has been forced into finding a compromise. The fact is seven [strikes] is too low, but we couldn't go in and say we need to hit horses more because that doesn't look good, and that's supposed to be what this is allabout.

"The jockeys asked for clarity, but I'm not happy with the number [seven], it's just too low. How can seven be fine, but eight is too much, it doesn't make sense. You can't put a number on what is abuse, you could hit a horse once and it could be abuse and you could hit a horse 20 times and it wouldn't be.

"No-one wants to see horses abused and if a young lad hits a horse unnecessarily, the senior guys will pull him aside and set him straight. We all love horses and would never abuse them."

On the need for the whip in a race, Moore, who was speaking on Racing UK, added: "Once a horse comes under pressure, you need to keep them up to it or they relax, there's no pain, but it is just getting them to respond and concentrate.

"It makes racing less competitive, you have to ride every horse the same way, some it will suit, but many it won't."

On Monday's meeting with the BHA, Moore added: "The BHA gave the impression they were under pressure to make these changes; they said they had two mailbags full of complaints."

Moore, who described the situation as "boring and sad", added: "They [the changes] are not in the long-term interest of the sport. Hopefully we can see sense and get back to the way things were. I think the old rules were fine and if they want to go back to them but bring in stronger penalties, perhaps that is the way."

Once upon a time jockeys used to race with spurs. There was a big outcry when that was banned and I doubt anyone wants to return. I reckon there should be a few trial races with jockeys racing without the whip and then make an assessment.

changes made today

The British Horseracing Authority's revised whip rules:

1. Removal of the numerical limits in place on the use of the whip in the final stages of races (the last furlong of a Flat race and after the last obstacle in a jumps race).

2. Numerical limits relating to the number of times that the whip can be used in total throughout a race will remain in place (up to seven times in a Flat race and eight times in a jumps race).

3. Jockeys' riding fees will no longer be included in the penalties for whip offences.

4. The number of days' suspension for whip rule breaches before the jockey's prize-money percentage will be forfeited is to be increased from three to seven days. The jockey's prize-money percentage will no longer be forfeited, but a suspension will continue to apply.

5. A rider will now be referred to a disciplinary panel having incurred a fourth suspension of five days or more within the previous 12 months. This advice will be changed to a suspension within the range of two months to six months and an entry point of three months.

Richard Hughes just rode the first winner at Newbury ,what about that for a change of mind..

Surely it's the BHA who changed their mind.....Hughes' said he would ride when they did!

Jocks still not happy ,nothing really changed..

RUBY WALSH will try to overturn the five-day riding ban he received for breaching the BHA's controversial new whip rules after lodging an appeal on Tuesday.

The BHA said the top rider had submitted his appeal against the suspension he incurred for excessive use of the whip at Aintree on Saturday.

BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey said: "Ruby Walsh has lodged an appeal. No date has been set for a hearing at the moment."

Walsh was found to have struck his mount Edgardo Sol nine times, one more than permitted, and his suspension almost led to a boycott of the following race at Aintree by incensed riders.

Walsh was particularly angry that a strike down the neck approaching the final fence had been counted. The ban rules him out of Down Royal's JNwine Champion Chase meeting on November 5 when he was due to ride Kauto Stone and The Nightingale for trainer Paul Nicholls.

As a result Walsh said he could limit his future visits to Britain and has yet to decide whether to ride at Wetherby on Saturday when he was expected to partner Poquelin in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.

New question on the table is, if the jock is suspended for using excess use of whip should the horse also be disqualified? Your thoughts

Jockeys know the Owners and trainers will back them even more if the horse gets thrown out aswell..

The bookies wont be able to settle,every race will be an inquiry

CHAMPION jockey Tony McCoy said he is in for "a long winter" after he received a five-day whip ban at Ffos Las on Sunday.

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Race result 
McCoy fell foul of the new whip rules for the  first time on Sunday after striking the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Caddie Master nine times - one over the threshold - in the 3m handicap hurdle as the pair were denied by Frontier Dancer by a short head.
Should McCoy break the whip rules again within 12 months he will receive a ten-day ban and a third offence in that period would result in a 30-day suspension.

"I've been riding a long time and I rode like I've always ridden and gave him a flick early on, after the third last I think," said McCoy.

"It wasn't so much as I forgot [that I'd hit him] but I flicked him and it was barely a flick - I'd have done more if I'd patted him - whereas before you wouldn't count it as a smack, now you count it as a smack.

"Caddie Master would probably have won six weeks ago but that's the way it is. You're doing your best to get them running, it's all about being competitive."

McCoy, who had represented jump jockeys at the BHA meeting with the PJA last month but recently ceased to act as unofficial keeper of the peace in the weighing room, said that he felt owners and racing were suffering under the new rules.


Ruby Walsh: has also fallen foul of new whip rules

 
PICTURE: Getty
 
"I feel sorry for the owners and a little for the sport, too, because I used to think the racing in this country was the best place to be riding in the world and you worry about what every other county in the world now thinks of you," he said.

"But we're just going to have to get used to it. The problem with myself, Ruby [Walsh] and lads that have already been done is it's going to be a long winter for us.

"We've got to go through the whole winter without actually breaking the rules again and it's disappointing. I can't forget [how many hits] any more."

Speaking on At The Races, McCoy added: "It's going to be tough on owners who put in a lot of money on horses that should be winning races and they're not winning.

"I broke the rules and I better not break them again. It's going to be a long winter, unfortunately."