RACING POST TUESDAY JANUARY 17th 2012 DIRECT FOCUS ON BLOODHORSE ILLITERATE WHIP RULES

THE RACING POST TUESDAY JANUARY 17th 2012

RACING POST WEEK MONDAY JANUARY 16th TO SUNDAY JANUARY 22nd 2012

www.turfcall.co.uk

ANDREW SCUTTS  "JOCKEYS TO FOCUS ON DISCRETION  OVER WHIP

"STEWARDS' lack of discretion in applying the new whip rules has been identified as a particular grievance for jockeys in advance of this weeks's  meeting between the BHA and riders' representatives.

"The controversial subject has returned to the news agenda with a vengeance in the last week, after seven jockeys were given bans totalling 93 days last Thursday, which was followed by Will Kennedy's seven-day-ban and loss of prize-money for his acclaimed ride on Swincombe Flame in Saturday's Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton Park, which he won by a nose.

"This Friday outgoing Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Kevin Darley will be among those meeting BHA officials, including new chief executive Paul Bittar, who starts his job to-morrow and has already expressed his willingness to amend the whip rules for a third time if it is deemed necessary by the regulators.

(Yet again we see bloodhorse illiteracy on the BHA front left in charge of bloodhorse literate issues JMC)

"Darley said yesterday: "The PJA is looking forward to the first formal opportunity since last year to discussing with the British Horseracing Authority the current rules concerning the using of the whip.

"We'll participate in and contribute to the review group meeting on Friday - which has been sheduled for some time- and make constructive suggestions on the best way foreward.

"Jockeys have a number of ongoing concerns about  the rules as they stand and are committed to working in a positive way with the regulator to address them. In particular, we do not believe that additional discretion for the stewards - which the BHA outlined in November - is being used sufficiently.

"There have been examples since the latest amendments to the rules when jockeys believe discretion could have been used, but it has not been. There are also concerns about the way in which some of the rules are being implemented and we will make those points on Friday."

"Darley added: "There are still challenges to be overcome and jockeys collectively will continue to work positively and constructively with the BHA to resolve these issues."( But will the BHA bloodhorse illiterate regulators work positively and constructively with the bloodhorse literate jockeys? JMC)

"The BHA announced on November 10 that stewards would be allowed more leeway, their statement on that element of the amendments reading:  "The stewards will have enhanced discretion when it comes to the use of whip, and whether specific uses should count towards the race total, on a case-by-case basis."