BHA to look at penalties for modified whip
A case involving a modified whip may prompt harsher penalties with the British Horse Racing Authority to reconsider the guidelines.
Danny Brock was fined PS140 by the race day stewards after he was found to have used a modified whip when he rode Resurrected to win at Chelmsford in September.
The penalty was later increased to a seven-day suspension by the BHA’s disciplinary panel after it emerged Resurrected had been left with “minor weals”.
Brock’s whip was found to have elastic bands wound around the tip.
Brant Dunshea, the BHA’s chief regulatory officer, stressed it was a rare transgression of the rules but admitted the standard penalties “do not seem sufficient”, with a tougher stance now possibly set to be implemented.
“The use of modified whips is not something that can be tolerated. The rules of racing are clear on this and the welfare of our horses is our primary concern,” Dunshea said.
“There have been no other cases identified of modified whips being used in a number of years.
“Having identified that Danny Brock had used a modified whip, the stewards imposed on him the standard penalty for this offence.
“The horse was checked by vets immediately after the race and at that time the horse was not wealed, but a second check of the horse later showed that minor weals had emerged.
“The jockey had left the racecourse by this time and therefore the stewards referred this second offence to be considered by the independent disciplinary panel at a later date.
“The independent panel decided to replace the initial APS140 fine with a seven-day suspension, which is above the standard five-day penalty for minor weals.
“The BHA feels that the standard penalties for an offence of this nature do not seem sufficient and will address this specifically when considering the Horse Welfare Board’s broader research and recommendations regarding the whip.
Resurrected was the subject of significant support ahead of her win, being backed on from 25-1 to 1-10-1.