Whip offences in British racing declined as a whole in 2015 and have nearly halved since 2010; however, the British Horseracing Authority indicated it will look into the rise of suspensions as a result of whip offences in Grade and Group 1 races. Suspensions for winning rides were handed out in 10 of those 72 contests in 2015, compared to five in 2014.
“One area of concern that arises from the 2015 data is the increased frequency of offences in races at the top level,” said the BHA's Director of Raceday Operations and Regulations, Jamie Stier. “We have committed to a further analysis of this data and through the normal annual process will be consulting with the Professional Jockeys Association to ensure that the rules and penalty structure provide a sufficient deterrent, while remaining fair and proportionate.”
More positively, the BHA data showed a 9% decrease in overall offences in 2015 from the previous year, with 0.61% of rides incurring a penalty. The number of offences has decreased 48% from 2010, the last full year before stricter whip rules were imposed. There has also been a 40% reduction in cases of interference since 2010, and year-on-year decreases of about a third in offences incurring a suspension of seven days or more.
“The new data is encouraging and is evidence of an ongoing cultural change in the use of the whip by riders based in Britain, in line with the objectives of the Whip Review,” said Stier. “Those objectives include reducing the number of offences, creating a change in culture towards the whip and safeguarding equine welfare.”
“Prior to the 2011 Whip Review the number of offences was rising at an unacceptable rate,” Stier continued. “However, under the new rules the number of offences has nearly halved. Bearing in mind that the thresholds for use were also effectively halved, this equates to a substantial, positive change to the manner in which the whip is being used in Britain.
Stier added, “The use of the whip in British Racing is not a welfare problem, but it is a welfare issue. It is essential that the sport is seen to put the welfare of the horse first at all times. The rules and controls that we now have in place, along with the padded, energy-absorbing design of the whip, ensure that this is the case.”
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