AN IMPORTANT REMINDER TO ALL CHELTENHAM BOUND JOCKEYS!
08-03-2009
Whip rules reminder for Cheltenham jockeys
THE BHA on Sunday called on riders to obey racing’s whip instructions at the Cheltenham Festival, which suffered a public relations setback 12 months ago when nine jockeys were found guilty of transgressing the rulebook.
Paul Struthers: jockey warning
PICTURE: Jon Winter
Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Robert Thornton were amongst those professional jockeys called before the stewards at last year’s Festival, after which the British Horseracing Authority and Professional Jockeys Association met to seek solutions to the problem.
BHA spokesman Paul Struthers said: “Jockeys need to ride within the rules. They know what the rules are and they will be reminded what the rules are. If they break them, a suspension may take the gloss off their achievements.”
The BHA’s Head of Stewarding, William Nunneley, will brief jockeys at the start of each day.
PLEASE NOTE:
There is a risk of MISSING THE FOXHUNTERS AT AINTREE should a jockey pick up a big whip ban at Cheltenham!
The table below illustrates when the first date of suspension would be if picked up at Cheltenham. Bans commence on the 14th day after the suspension was imposed but Amateur jockeys only serve their bans on days when Amateur Jockeys races are scheduled to take place:
Offence taking place on Tuesday 10th March: First day 24th March: a ban of 7 days or more would result in missing the Foxhunters
Offence taking place on Wednesday 11th March: First ban 25th March: a ban of 6 days or more would result in missing the Foxhunters
Offence taking place on Thursday 12th March: First ban 26th March: a ban of 5 days or more would result in missing the Foxhunters
Offence taking place on Friday 13th March: First ban 27th March: a ban of 4 days would be automatically deferred away from a day when a Grade/Group 1 is scheduled.