BHA WHIP REVIEW – A MUST READ!!!!

06-10-2011

THE BHA REVIEW ON USE OF THE WHIP COMES INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY NEXT 10TH OCTOBER!

• 5 hits in the final furlong/after the last obstacle are the maximum number of hits that are acceptable.
• 7 hits (flat) 8 hits (jump) in the whole race are the maximum number of hits that are acceptable.
• Excessive frequency – minimum suspension of 5 days for 1 hit over the permitted maximum and a further 2 days for every hit thereafter.
• Penalties for other breaches of Schedule (B)6 part 2 have been increased.
• Repeat offences will result in at least a doubling of the suspension.
• Group 1 and Grade 1 exemptions will not apply to whip offences.

• Every time a rider’s whip makes contact with his horse with his whip hand off the reins will be considered as a hit regardless of how, where or with what force the whip is used.

• Any offence which warrants a suspension of more than 20 days before previous offences are taken into account will be referred.
• Any offence which warrants a suspension of 42 days having taken previous offences into account will be referred.
• Penalties imposed by the Disciplinary Panel have been increased considerably.

The full BHA review of the use of the whip can be viewed by this link: http://www.britishhorseracing.com/whip-review/WhipReview.pdf