With top jockey Jim Crowley getting a 20-day riding ban (plus a £10,000 fine) for his ride on Hukum in the 2023 King George – just what are the British horse racing whip rules and bans in place?
British Horse Racing Whip Rules: How Many Times Can a Jockey Use The Whip In a Race?
After a review by the British Horse Racing board in 2022 it was advised that the whip rules were revised as follows.
- The whip can be uses a maximum of SIX times in a flat race or SEVEN times in a Jump race (any more and a stewards’ review will take place)
- In addition to the number of times the whip is used, the Whip Review Committee can also investigate the force of which the whip is used. Taking into account if it’s been used above shoulder height, if the horse has been given enough time to respond, the purpose it was used, if the horse was in contention of winning the race and if it was used in the correct place.
- Jockeys found to have broken the rules or guidance will be suspended from riding, while a third suspension inside a 3-month period will also result in being referred to the Judicial Panel for a further penalty.
- If the whip is used 4+ times over the permitted levels (see point number 1), the horse and rider will be disqualified from the race.
The full British horse racing whip rules can be found in more detail here.
Jim Crowley Banned For 20 Days For His Ride On Hukum In The 2023 King George
The horse racing whip rules have hit the headlines again in recent weeks after the ride Jim Crowley gave Hukum to win the 2023 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on Saturday 29th July at Ascot.
Crowley was judged to have used the whip THREE times over the maximum limit of six in a flat race, which resulted in a 20-day ban that will force the top rider out of the York Ebor Meeting (23rd-26th August), plus he also picked up a £10,000 fine. (Watch below)
Rob Hornby, who was on the close second Westover, was also in trouble after using the whip seven times (1 over) and got an 8-day ban as a result. There was just a head between Hukum and Westover at the line – so, the big question is – did the extra whipping help the Owen Burrows horse to win?
If Crowley had used the whip just once more on Hukum, the horse and rider would have been disqualified from the King George that carried a first prize of £708,875.
Jockeys Must Also Use The Whip In A Backhand Only-Style
Jockeys must also use the whip in a ‘backhand’ style.
The reasoning behind the move to a backhand-only style is intended to minimalise the excessive force being when jockeys need to use the whip – with a the backhand grip having a much shorter reach and grip, which will mean less force inflicted on a horse.
This whip review was first proposed in 2018 following the well documented Cheltenham Festival amount of equine deaths that year and also the high-profile whip bans over that 12-month period.
DID YOU KNOW? 2022 Grand National Winner – NOBLE YEATS – would have been disqualified based on these new whip rules.
Leading jumps jockey – Tom Scudamore told the Racing Post – “The change to using the whip only in the backhand will be a significant one for many riders, and the revised penalties are certainly strict. However, I believe the increase in penalties will have the correct deterrent on those riding.
“When the whip is used in the backhand position the natural arc in which you use it will mean it is more frequently landing in the right place with the appropriate amount of force.
“The result will be visibly improved racing, which has not lost the important benefits of being able to properly focus a horse at the end of a race, or when jumping over obstacles, which is what the padded ProCush whip is intended to be used for.”
Why Is a Whip Used In Horse Racing?
Jockeys carry whips in horse racing to primarily help with horsemanship and the safety of themselves and the other riders in a horse race.
In British horse racing, the whip is restricted with the rules set out above with safety and encouragement as the main focus. The term ‘encouragement’ refers to helping the horse focus in a race and that it’s allowed to give its best, while the use of the whip to coerce is not allowed and this is set out in the rules and penalties.
The whip used in UK horse racing is also foam-padded and energy absorbing. There is just one accredited producer of the whip for British racing too, which makes sure that all the jockeys are using the same one. These are checked by the Clerk of the Scales before each race to ensure they are the proper ones and in good condition.
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