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British Horseracing Authority chief executive Julie Harrington hit back at criticism of the sport’s leadership amid protests over the introduction of new whip regulations.
Thirteen-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls said on Friday he was “enthusiastic” about the time of change ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, which starts on March 14, and that the BHA needed to show “some backbone” to stand up. exercise.
No less than 19 jockeys were given whip suspensions in the first week that the new rules came into force on February 19. 12 other riders were suspended while the whip review committee was made for the second.
Nicholls accused the BHA of “pleasing” the sport’s critics rather than standing up for its participants.
Speaking on the Luck On Sunday Racing TV programme, Harrington said: “Obviously I’m disappointed to hear those comments, but the truth is that it takes a backbone to make an unpopular decision. And I have to be strong in that we’re not pandering to people who will not love the sport.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure the sport is fair and also attractive to people who don’t have strong opinions about the sport.
“I think everyone will agree that there are different parties and different schools about whether whipping is a welfare issue, but I think we all agree that it’s a perception issue for the sport. that and just sit down and do something about it.
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Jockey Lorcan Williams said he was ‘gutted’ to miss the Cheltenham Festival due to an 18-day whipping ban and explained his struggle to adapt to the new rules, which came into force last month.
“The whip review panel, for our part, is filled with people who work closely with horses and it is a strong recommendation to continue to keep the whip to encourage, because they believe that it is not a welfare issue.
“Let me be clear, I do not believe it is a welfare issue, but I also lead a sport where I know there is a big, passionate debate on both sides and there are differences of opinion.”
A change in the whipping law saw the reduction of one strike. It can now be used six times on the Flat and seven jumps, with disqualification for the horse if the rider moves four times or more over the threshold. The suspension for jockeys is also more severe.
Harrington added: “It is also a matter of fairness, to make sure that we have a fair result – if you connect a horse that is ridden within the rules but you lose to a horse that is ridden outside the rules, it must be enough. prevent to make sure that it is fair and that no one wins with mentality.
“There is never a good time to make a change and making a change is difficult. There will be people who disagree, but there is a clear understanding that the rules are there now and it is up to the jockeys to ride the rules.”
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