Jockeys write letter of complaint at having to whip their horses less

A letter, signed by 30 jump jockeys, highlighting their mounting disquiet over the practicalities of introducing stringent new whip rules just over a month before the sport’s biggest shop window, the Cheltenham Festival, has been sent to the British Horseracing Authority.

The letter was written by Harry Skelton and has been signed by weighing-room colleagues, including champion jockey Brian Hughes, Nico de Boinville, Sam Twiston-Davies and Harry Cobden.

It is a direct result of stewards starting to take jockeys aside in the last fortnight to begin the education process and point out what punishments they would receive under the new rules if they rode as they currently do. Under the new rules, De Boinville was told he would have been banned for four days for an innocuous winning ride on Attacca at Cheltenham yesterday.

“Now that it is starting to be put into practice it is proving more difficult than we all, as an industry, realised it would be,” said Skelton.

The new rules, agreed by the Whip Consultation Steering Group, begin a bedding-in process on January 9 before their full introduction on February 8. One of the fundamental changes is the banning of the whip in the forehand and penalties will now include the disqualification of a horse if a jockey uses the whip four times over the limit (eight for jumps, seven for the Flat).

The letter, seen by Telegraph Sport, points out that the mid-season timing of the introduction of the new rules will leave jockeys "vulnerable" and that they are "worried about the future of our sport regarding the new whip rules".

“Some of us have been riding for 15-20 years and expecting us to change something that has been a fundamental part of our riding careers is near impossible, let alone in the short time we are expected to adjust to this change.”

Skelton adds that he fears that "the headlines will be overtaken with failures to adhere to the new rules rather than celebrating the triumphs of our sport" and that even the BHA does not need that added pressure.

The obvious example is when the inevitable first Cheltenham winner gets thrown out it will steal the headlines from the main event, for example something like the National Hunt Chase overshadowing the Champion Hurdle on the first day.

A spokesperson for the BHA said: “We recognise the importance of working with jockeys, which is why we have engaged with them to make sure they understand the changes being brought in through communication and education. We will be happy to continue with such engagement prior to the implementation of the new rules.”

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