Two British jockeys received suspensions for excessive use of the whip during races at Salisbury Racecourse Oct. 10, the first day that stiffer penalties went into effect for that violation.
According to a ruling by the British Horseracing Authority stewards, Kieran Fox has been suspended 15 days as a result of his whip use aboard Orthodoxlad during the final two furlongs of the horse’s win at Sailsbury.
Jockey Richard Hughes was handed a five-day suspension for the same offense in the final furlong of his ride on Swift Blade, who finished third in his race.
Under the new rules, jockeys found to have used the whip excessively will face a minimum suspension of five days; the previous minimum penalty was a caution, but the BHA found that was not an effective deterrent.
The whip can now only be used a maximum of seven times in a Thoroughbred flat race and eight times in a jump race, including only five times in the last furlong or after the last obstacle. It is about half the number of times a whip could be used previously.
A jockey that incurs a whip ban of three days or more will forfeit his riding fee and purse percentage.
