Hayley Turner

Great news yesterday about the whip rule alteration, it has been a pleasing change all round but particularly from the weighing room.

This change has been the forth since the original rule came in September. It’s a shame the BHA had to complicate things so much in the first place but it’s done now, hopefully these rules are here so stay and only minor alterations will be necessary.

The change is that instead of an automatic suspension once a ride goes over 8 smacks it will just trigger the stewards to have a look back at the ride and how the whip has been used throughout the race, they will look to see if the smacks have been to forceful or the horse has not had time to respond to them.

I see that the RSPCA have announced the new rules are unwelcome but surely if they had seen the whips first hand it would not be in issue, and for anyone reading this that is in agreement with them please take the time to have a look at these whip, I am 100% confident your view will change.

I loved the quote in the Racing Post today that from Paul Struthers “The PJA will continue to work closely with the BHA ” That’s a confidence boost for me anyway, the new chief executives seem to be having an effect and working together is a major key.

I probably shouldn’t say this because it’s is tempting fate but since I have been back riding I haven’t incurred a suspension for careless riding, I think knowing you can’t pick your whip up so easily has me grabbing hold of them more and getting them running which makes them more balance either that or the stern warning I got off my agent helped! I think it’s better for apprentices to learn to ride this way too.

Fingers crossed this new change runs smoothly and we can all enjoy the talent at Cheltenham.

PS. Did you see Efistorm win again….I love him!

The whip rule debate has kicked off again and will continue to do so until the BHA put their hands up and admit they have got it wrong.

The limit has been reduced to 7 on the flat, the public are happy with this, the flat jockeys are happy with this, so why does the BHA have to complicate things??

For example Nicky Mackay hit a horse 9 times on Monday at Wolverhampton, yes Nicky should receive a ban he was 2 over so a couple of days off would have been fair but somehow the stewards under their new, very stupid system decided to give him 10! REALLY???

I’m not a jump jockey but in my view the limit which is only a few more than flat jockeys doesn’t seem fair, 7 is ok for us with shorter distances and generally better ground, they have a lot more ground to cover and obstacles so get over, hopefully that will be sorted before the Cheltenham Festival so people can talk about racing rather than the whip.

The punishment does not fit the crime. In the summer that suspension will be career changing for some jockeys, if I was suspended for 10 days and Michael Bell had a nice 2yr old making a debut he would have to use someone else, if the horse then wins that jockey might keep the ride. There are a lot of jockeys about and there’s a lot of competition not only that, there’s the financial loss to think about too.