Latest News / Paul Nicholls / 14 October 2011 / 4

The master trainer clarifies his position on the new whip rules and calls for the BHA to show strength as they bid to resolve the controversy...

Embarrassment - that is the prevailing mood among racing. And under no circumstances can that be good for the sport, or how it is viewed by the public.

And that is what prompted me to tweet the following this morning: "Oh my god what a mess. Old whip rules should be reinstated with immediate effect until a sensible compromise can be reached."

As everyone knows, I am not a political person and on this issue I have been deliberately low key before now, even though I put my name to the BHA press release - along with the likes of AP, Frankie and Sir Henry - when the new whip rules were announced.

Everyone agreed change had to happen.

And I hadn't planned to say any more on the matter. But after every media organisation under the sun was calling me, and Sky Sports News flagging up my tweet every hour it seems, I suppose I cannot leave it there.

Last week, I wrote in this column that we have to "give the new rules a chance" while at the same time adding: "I certainly wouldn't want to be riding these days and personally I was happy enough with the old rules. And having spoken to AP and Ruby about this at length this week, I can see both sides of the argument and the worries that some jockeys have."

So what has changed?

Well, the sport is being dragged into chaos and ridicule on the eve of one of the most important days in the racing calendar - probably the most important, if you are the BHA and RFC - that's what has changed. And when you get whispers of jockeys' protests and strikes next week, you surely have to confront the matter head on.

The headlines at the moment are all for the wrong reasons. Imagine how QIPCO, sponsors of the Champions Day, must be feeling.

You can debate the merits of Richard Hughes' actions as long as you want, but when men of the wisdom and experience of Paul Barber and Andy Stewart use words such as "embarrassed" to describe the current situation, then isn't it time for firm and immediate action?

And the BHA listening to those within racing, and drawing a line under these new whip rules until mature and balanced discussions have taken place, is surely an option that now must be seriously being considered?

The new rules were brought home to me on a personal level when Harry Skelton was the first jumps jockeys to be given a five day ban after striking El Diego nine times at Wincanton yesterday.

As everyone who saw that race would attest to, it was a peach of a ride, even in defeat. He pushed and cajoled an unco-operative horse into contention from a long way out, and only lost out near the line.

But he hit the horse nine times, and so got the ban. I spoke to Harry last night and he told me with so much going on in the 3m1f race - and remember these jockeys are putting their lives on the line here - it is simply impossible for jockeys to count with any accuracy how many times they hit the horse.

We, in racing, fully appreciate that we have a wider responsibility now and that the days of "win at all costs" should be banished to the past.

But when jockeys relate that would they rather err on the side of caution and finish second, rather than risk a ban going for the win, what sort of message is that sending to punters?

So, maybe let's take a pull on the new whip rules for now until we find the correct solution.

By doing this the BHA will be showing strength of character, not weakness of will.

But of course that is just my opinion.

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1. Andy | 14 October 2011

   As a long time fan of racing under both codes and someone who has shares in racehorses, I feel the BHA has lost the plot and is in danger of putting the thrill of racing into the background by trying to attract non-racing people with gimmicks. Some of the things RFC has introduced make me cringe - and also make me less inclined to attend high profile events. The whip rules seemed simple at first sight, but clearly, in the light of experience, they need tweaking. I'd rather go back to the old rules with clear guidelines about what constitutes "excessive frequency" depending on the length of race and the code under which it was run. One size does not fit all; a five furlong sprint is different from a three mile steeplechase. One (extra) strike and you're out isn't the way to go.

2. Anonymous | 16 October 2011

   Hopefully this issue will be resolved with the further consultation now planned. As horseracing is a highlight of my life I live in hope that we will make it onto the front pages of newspapers & sports sections for the right reasons, not like today where both papers I picked up were laughing at the whip rules mess. No mention of Frankel, who deserves the coverage.

   Always seem to be shooting ourselves in the hoof.

3. paul moody | 17 October 2011

   well said thanks , paul im just a punter but love animals esp horses for their grace and effort , i see donkeys badly treated and its not easy, but hope that punters are considered too as we are close to a disaster here best of luck ,
   anyone can recover from embarrassment but chaos ,.....
   paul

4. alfred wallace | 17 October 2011

   jockeys will be dammed if they try, and if they ere on the side of caution, what will the reaction of the owners and trainers be,they dont get penalised if he wins the race and then gets banned and fined, the jockey is in a no win situation and his livelyhood is at risk

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