THE RACING POST SATURDAY OCTOBER 22nd 2011 WEEK MONDAY TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 17th TO 23rd 2011

THE RACING POST SATURDAY OCTOBER 22nd 2011

RACING POST NEWS WEEK MONDAY OCTOBER 17th TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 23rd 2011

LINK: CHANNEL 4 RACING TEAM THE MORNING LINE SATURDAY OCTOBER 22nd 2011
http://turfcallmorningline.blogspot.com/2011/10/morning-line-saturday-october-22nd-c4.html

GRAHAM DENCH TODAY'S BIG TALKING POINT

HIT OR MYTH? QUANDARY FOR PUNTERS OVER TWO YEAR OLD COLT CAMELOT .... BEWARE TAKING A SHORT PRICE ABOUT THE RACING POST TROPHY FAVOURITE DONCASTER 3.00.

 

YEARLINGS AND TWO YEAR OLDS JUST STARTING OUT ON THE RACING ROAD HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ALL OF WHICH VERY MUCH DEPENDS UPON

WHO THE HANDLER RIDER AND TRAINER IS

GRAHAM GREEN  JOCKEYS IN TALKS OVER PROTEST ACTION

"THE Professional Jockeys Association last night moved to quell the possibility of strike action as a significant number of jockeys threatened to protest next week over the controversial new whip rules. This comes despite the BHA relaxing elements of the changes which have infuriated riders since they were introduced on October 10. Jockeys are reported to be planning strike action next Friday and Saturday in order to cause maximum disruption to televised meetings. In the interim they plan to hand the BHA an ultimatum.

"The board of directors of the PJA called on jockeys to carry on riding as normal. Leading riders, including Frankie Dettori and Tony McCoy, will be sending a strong message to their colleagues at fixtures today and tomorrow that any form of protest involving not riding would be counterproductive.

"The implementation of the stringent changes last week plunged the sport into crisis and, despite the BHA ceding to some of the jockeys' demands - such as scrapping the edict of five strikes in the final furlong/after the final obstacle and agreeing that the riding fee should not be forfeited for any rule breach - it is understood a straw pole of jockeys at Newbury yesterday (21.10.11) found 98 per cent, according to an observer, in favour of a protest.

"The canvass of opinion at Doncaster did not produce such a clear- cut signal of intent, but further debate was slated for Wolverhampton's meeting last night, while a conference call was set to take place between senior PJA executives and leading riders.

"Although welcoming aspects of the BHA's announcement, PJA chief executive KEVIN DARLEY warned that riders still had "serious concerns" over elements of the regulations and said views were being sought.

"The changes, which took effect at yesterday's fixtures, also included increasing the number of days suspension for whip breaches before a jockey forfeits his/her prize-money from three to seven , but many remained of the opinion that the penalties are too harsh. Any rider who uses two more hits than the allowed seven for Flat races and eight for jumps-which itself remains a bone of contention with some jump jockeys -will still forfeit their prize-money slice and the minimum ban for excessive frequency remains five days.

"All whip bans incurred since October 10 are subject to the updated regulations and so suspensions imposed on the 21 occasions riders were found in breach over this period have been annulled of adjusted.

"An immediate result of the amendments was the return to action at Newbury of RICHARD HUGHES who had refused to ride until the whip rules were changed. The rescinding of his two bans means he is again free for the Breeders' Cup, where he has a plum ride on STRONG SUIT.

"Another beneficiary is CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLION, who will now receive his £52,000 of the prize-money for winning last weekend's Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot, previously denied him for striking CIRRUS DES AIGLES six times in the final furlong,  His five-day ban has also been quashed.

"Racing's regulator, whose decision to enforce the beefed-up whip rules with no trial period led to Britain's richest card being overshadowed by the furore, announced  the amendments against the back ground of a still possible protest by riders from Monday, and following consultations with the BHA, which presented its own proposals for resolving the controversy to the BHA this week.

"After the latest developments, DARLEY said: "the PJA, is pleased the BHA has recognised the new rules over the use of the whip did require amendments, especially in regard to the limitations on the use of the whip in the final furlong and after the last fence in Flat and Jump racing, as well as in regard to the forfeiting of riding fees. We're pleased they have said the impact and effectiveness of the rules will be constantly monitored, and jockeys will wish to be fully consulted.

                                                                                                                                                   

"There are still some serious concerns about the level of penalties for minor infringements. A jockey could still be in breach and face a heavy penalty for using the whip in best interests of safety and horsemanship. There are also concerns about the way the rules may impact differently on Flat and Jump racing."

DARLEY added: "Discussions among jockeys will continue today and over the weekend. These amendments have been announced only this morning (Saturday October 22nd) and time is needed to assess them. Opinions are being canvassed among jockey's."

23.10.2011 Jockeys

GRAHAM GREEN Saturday

Jockeys in talks over protest action

"The Professional Jockeys Association last night moved to quell the possibility of strike action as a significant number of jockeys threatened to protest next week over the controversial new whip rules. This comes despite the BHA relaxing elements of the changes which have infuriated riders since they were introduced on October 10. Jockeys are reported to be planning strike action next Friday and Saturday in order to cause maximum disruption to televised meetings. In the interim they plan to hand the BHA an ultimatum.

"The board of directors of the PJA called on jockeys to carry on riding as normal. Leading riders, including Frankie Dettori and Tony McCoy, will be sending a strong message to their colleagues at fixtures today and tomorrow that any form of protest involving not riding would be counterproductive.

"The implementation of the stringent changes last week plunged the sport into crisis and, despite the BHA ceding to some of the jockeys' demands - such as scrapping the edict of five strikes in the final furlong/after the final obstacle and agreeing that the riding fee should not be forfeited for any rule breach - it is understood a straw pole of jockeys at Newbury yesterday (21.10.11) found 98 per cent, according to an observer, in favour of a protest.

"The canvass of opinion at Doncaster did not produce such a clear- cut signal of intent, but further debate was slated for Wolverhampton's meeting last night, while a conference call was set to take place between senior PJA executives and leading riders.

"Although welcoming aspects of the BHA's announcement, PJA chief executive KEVIN DARLEY warned that riders still had "serious concerns" over elements of the regulations and said views were being sought.

"The changes, which took effect at yesterday's fixtures, also included increasing the number of days suspension for whip breaches before a jockey forfeits his/her prize-money from three to seven , but many remained of the opinion that the penalties are too harsh. Any rider who uses two more hits than the allowed seven for Flat races and eight for jumps-which itself remains a bone of contention with some jump jockeys -will still forfeit their prize-money slice and the minimum ban for excessive frequency remains five days.

"All whip bans incurred since October 10 are subject to the updated regulations and so suspensions imposed on the 21 occasions riders were found in breach over this period have been annulled of adjusted.

"An immediate result of the amendments was the return to action at Newbury of RICHARD HUGHES who had refused to ride until the whip rules were changed. The rescinding of his two bans means he is again free for the Breeders' Cup, where he has a plum ride on STRONG SUIT.

"Another beneficiary is CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLION, who will now receive his £52,000 of the prize-money for winning last weekend's Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot, previously denied him for striking CIRRUS DES AIGLES six times in the final furlong,  His five-day ban has also been quashed.

"Racing's regulator, whose decision to enforce the beefed-up whip rules with no trial period led to Britain's richest card being overshadowed by the furore, announced  the amendments against the back ground of a still possible protest by riders from Monday, and following consultations with the BHA, which presented its own proposals for resolving the controversy to the BHA this week.

"After the latest developments, DARLEY said: "the PJA, is pleased the BHA has recognised the new rules over the use of the whip did require amendments, especially in regard to the limitations on the use of the whip in the final furlong and after the last fence in Flat and Jump racing, as well as in regard to the forfeiting of riding fees. We're pleased they have said the impact and effectiveness of the rules will be constantly monitored, and jockeys will wish to be fully consulted.

                                                                                                                                                 

"There are still some serious concerns about the level of penalties for minor infringements. A jockey could still be in breach and face a heavy penalty for using the whip in best interests of safety and horsemanship. There are also concerns about the way the rules may impact differently on Flat and Jump racing."

DARLEY (Bloodhorse Literate Achiever) added: "Discussions among jockeys will continue today and over the weekend. These amendments have been announced only this morning (Saturday October 22nd) and time is needed to assess them. Opinions are being canvassed among jockey's."

"BHA director of raceday operations and regulation Jamie Stier said: "We haven't so much come  to a compromise, we've acted as a responsible regulator should. I hope the PJA see that we, have been willing to listen and have been willing to take what we believe to be the correct measures, but also respect we are the regulator of the sport and the sport is not regulated by participants within it."

"However, the response of jockeys riding yesterday offered little encouragement that the dispute has been defused. PJA joint- president STEVE DROWNE (Bloodhorse Literate Achiever) said "The BHA has given us a bit, but a lot of us are still worried  about the entry penalty for a simple mistake. You get five days then it doubles to ten. We'll judge the mood in the weighing room and take it from there."

"Asked if protest action was off the agenda, DROWNE replied "I would not say it is out of the questions, but if it was 70-30 in favour I doubt we would. We all have to agree.

"JAMIE SPENCER said: "The whole thing is a shambles. All it's proved is that, as a body, jockeys are weak. Everyone should have stuck together and struck for what we believe in but that hasn't happened. That shows we have no strength, which is very disappointing. I have no problem with the seven hits, but the penalties just don't add up.  I don't think it will effect the Flat lads as much as the jumping guys - I think they'll have problems in the middle of winter when the ground is heavy."

RICHARD JOHNSON said "It's nice to see they have agreed the rules were not working. I still think the penalties are a bit harsh, but at least they have taken on board what the jockey's have said. It's a good start and hopefully there's still room for more talking in the future. "

"Under the changes, a rider receiving a fourth ban of five days or more will no longer  be referred to the Disciplinary Panel but instead receive a suspension within the range of two to six months, with an entry point of two to six months, with an entry point of three months. The rule that states there will be no Group/Grade 1 exemptions for jockeys remains in place."