New three-person whip review committee to sit on Tuesday to assess rule breaches

The whip review committee will sit for the first time on Tuesday with rides that may have breached the present, and new, whip rules set to be assessed by the panel.

The committee has been implemented as part of the ongoing changes around the whip rules in British racing, with on-course stewards referring rides to the three-person board to assess each week before any bans are handed out, rather than the sanctions being dispensed on the day.

Last week, a ‘bedding-in period’ for the new whip rules began with jump jockeys having a month to get used to the changes, which include a reduction by one in the number of times a whip can be used in a race and the introduction of disqualification when going four or more above the strike limit.

Riders had also been facing up to the prospect of not being able to use the whip in the forehand position under the new rules, which had first been proposed last July.

However, a weighing room rebellion this month resulted in a compromise being reached with the BHA to allow its continued use in exchange for fewer strikes and more stringent penalties for breaches.

The whip review committee will comprise the chair Sam Angell, a BHA regulatory adviser, alongside a BHA steward and a stewards’ panel chair.

Any judgements against riders under the present rules will be published by the BHA on Tuesday, but the regulator deems it “inappropriate” to name riders who were found to have broken the new rules that have yet to come into force.

Nevertheless, the number of riders who would have been found in breach of the new rules will be published “in the interests of transparency”.

As well as the referrals from raceday stewards, the panel will also be able to assess the races and identify any potential breaches of the whip rules themselves. Recommendations for training and development can be made alongside the issuing of penalties.

Any riders found in breach of the rules will be informed on the same day as the committee meets, with any ban starting 14 days after the jockey has been told, although riders will have the opportunity to appeal against sanction as before.

Read this next:

'At least they've listened' - BHA amends whip proposal after jockey criticism

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday