David Elsworth: 'You'd stop whip misuse tomorrow if jockeys faced a year ban'

Former champion jumps trainer David Elsworth has said the best way to stop whip overuse is to impose swingeing penalties on jockeys if they break the proposed new rules rather than disqualify their mount.

Elsworth, himself a former jockey before embarking upon a sensational training career that ended only last year, was responding to this week's whip review, which saw the introduction of disqualification as the ultimate penalty once a rider has gone four strikes over the limits of seven on the Flat and eight over jumps. The new penalties are due to be implemented in the autumn.

Sir Mark Prescott has subsequently called for the rules to go even further, arguing that horses should be disqualified when their rider has gone just one stroke over the limit.

However, Elsworth has taken issue with his former Newmarket colleagues and believes that, as the jockey is at fault, any penalties should focus solely on them rather than "persecuting" owners, breeders, trainers and horses by disqualifying the horse.

David Elsworth: 'In my opinion, the penalties are aiming in the wrong direction'Credit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "I'm very frustrated that Sir Mark Prescott thinks it's obvious that if we disqualify the winner when the jockey breaks the rules, that solves everything. In my opinion, the penalties are aiming in the wrong direction. There are a lot of penalties we could inflict on the person who actually commits the offence without persecuting the owner, the breeder, the trainer and the punter.

"The one person who is instrumental and is responsible for the whip use is the jockey himself and I disagree that disqualifying the horse will stop overuse. You could stop it tomorrow if jockeys knew they wouldn't ride for a year if they break the rules. A strong deterrent like disqualifying for that long or even suggesting they could return after six months but would ride without a whip, that would work."

Elsworth recalled a group of trainers having an identical debate to that which has been played out in public this week.

"A couple of years ago we were having a discussion about this at a trainers' meeting in the Jockey Club Rooms chaired by Mark Tompkins as I remember," he said. "Some people agreed with me and others with Prescott. We had a show of hands afterwards and, lo and behold, my idea was the most popular!"

On the wider perception of overuse of the whip, however, Elsworth is keen to get the message across from the racing industry that welfare is vital.

He added: "Make no mistake, however this plays out, those of us in the racing industry must make it known to some of the wider public that we are horse lovers like they are. It's important that we display an image of kindness and we certainly don't want to beat horses up."

Read these next:

Sir Mark Prescott: 'I've held that view for a long time and I don't change it'

'I was dreading it but it's common sense' – Willie Carson on the new whip rules

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