Whip Rules debate

The controversial new whip rules implemented by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on October 10th have divided the sport, alienated its key actors, the jockeys, and are threatening to bring down horseracing altogether as the debate rages on.  The BHA thought last week that amendments made to the use of the final furlong whip would stave off the threat of jockey strike action, but this naïve counterpunch has only made the jockeys more determined to reverse the changes.

A furore over the grim scenes in April at the Grand National convinced the BHA that it was time for change with regard to the use of the whip, which was so crucial to the victory of Ballabriggs in that race under the ride of Jason Maguire. But this furore was made from watchers from the outside; the cries for change were seldom heard from the jockeys, trainers or owners who are the people actually involved with racing and to whom the horses mean the most to. The whip rules were made to appease a wavering public, but in turn have affected worst of all the people actually involved in the sport. In doing this, the BHA have made an act of self-implosion.

As well as the decision itself, the timing of implementing the changes on October 10^th was bizarre. On the cusp of the jumps season, the new regulations have hit jump jockeys significantly having been only allowed one more use of the whip than flat jockeys during races. This is despite the fact that jumps races are longer and more difficult to navigate, thus giving increased importance to the whip for steering and encouraging the horses. Jump racing’s two most decorated riders, Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh, have both declared their opposition to the rules, throwing the jumps season under a cloud before it has even begun.

Walsh incurred a ban of five days after using his whip once more than the allowed number of eight times on Edgardo Sol, whom he narrowly guided to a nose lengths victory at Aintree on Saturday. With horseracing finishes often being so tight, the new regulations present a dilemma: ride out and go for the win with all the means at your disposal, or accept defeat because you’re not sure whether you’ve exceeded the limit. The new rules are farcical, with jockeys so focused on the winning post to gain prize money and pride for them and their connections they don’t have time to consider how many times they’ve whipped the horse.

Perhaps the most controversial issue within the new regulations is the fines and suspensions handed out to jockeys. While Walsh’s ban got all the publicity, lesser known jockey Patrick Mathers got a seven-day ban for using his whip more than the allowance at Redcar this week which hammers a crucial point home. Most jockeys aren’t superstars, and despite the gruelling working hours, are not financially secure. Only a handful of McCoy’s and Walsh’s exist and become millionaires. For the others, it is a regular paying job, so fines and bans being handed out left, right and centre as the BHA are doing presently is going to hit some jockeys severely and force them to relinquish their licences.

The BHA’s whip rules have only succeeded in alienating the people most crucial to their sport, the jockeys. Strike action was narrowly averted at Aintree but is surely not far round the corner. If the BHA’s main employees unite and turn against it, it will have no choice but to amend the changes for the good of the sport, or risk sending horseracing into terminal decline.