Whip rule controversy set to halt racing in Scandinavia as jockeys go on strike

Racing in Scandinavia appears set to grind to a halt, following a snap decision by jockeys to go on strike. The dispute is over new rules which restrict jockeys as to what they can do to encourage their mounts, the ruling bodies in Sweden, Denmark and Norway having agreed to impose a ban on use of the whip except for reasons of safety.

Those rules, requiring jockeys to keep their hands on their mount's mane or neck, caused immediate tension when winning jockeys were suspended for having breached them at two early Flat-racing meetings in Sweden, at Bro Park and Jagersro. But the flashpoint came at Klampenborg in Denmark on Saturday, when Bolivar Rules was demoted from first place after his rider Carlos Lopez was also found in breach.

That decision is said to have caused outrage and allegations of inconsistency from jockeys and other racing professionals, as well as punters. A statement from Dansk Galop on Monday night apologised for the situation and said it would seek a summit meeting with its equivalent bodies in Sweden and Norway, "with a view to making the rules more transparent".

Evidently, it was not enough for Scandinavia's jockeys, who, it is claimed, will refuse to ride at fixtures scheduled this week at Bro Park, Jagersro and Ovrevoll in Norway. The strength of their views was expressed on Tuesday by the veteran Per-Anders Graberg, who has been described as the finest jockey in the region.

Square De Luynes: one of the stars of Norwegian racingCredit: Svensk Gallopp

"We want the current rules to be withdrawn," Graberg was quoted as saying by one report, "and to be allowed to ride on the basis of the previous whip rules, until together we have found a way forward.

"If the rules are not changed, none of us will ride at Bro Park, and so we will continue at Ovrevoll and Jagersro. At the same time – on behalf of myself and all my colleagues – I would especially like to apologise to the owners that they are now caught in this boring situation, but we need to stand together now and we hope for support and understanding."

Whip use for encouragement has long been banned in Norway but, until this month, jockeys in Sweden and Denmark were allowed to use it three times per race in Flat races involving horses aged three or older.

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