Woods amongst 4 jockeys banned over whip guidelines

Jockey Kielan Woods has been handed a 42-day suspension for breaking whip guidelines 5 instances in six months.

Woods’ penalty, of which 9 days are suspended for six months, was the heaviest handed out.

Fellow jockeys Jonjo O’Neill junior, Paula Muir and Marco Ghiani had been additionally handed bans from racing.

O’Neill junior was given a 21-day ban, with seven days suspended, for his third offence in six months.

Muir was given 35 days, with 9 suspended, for her third offence, whereas Ghiani was banned for 25 days, with eight suspended.

The BHA launched new whip guidelines in February over jumps and at the beginning of the present Flat season, decreasing the utmost variety of strikes allowed to seven and 6 respectively.

Whereas the BHA and the Skilled Jockeys Affiliation (PJA) are but to totally consider the impression of the modifications, the racing regulator says jockeys “have proven that they’re able to adapt to the brand new thresholds”.

A spokesperson mentioned: “The BHA is consistently monitoring the information round breaches of the brand new whip guidelines and interesting in common constructive dialogue with the PJA and senior jockeys beneath each codes.

“This ongoing dialogue has led to quite a few changes which have already been launched to the foundations and penalty construction.

“The BHA and PJA have additionally agreed that, at across the six-month stage following implementation, we might assessment what has labored nicely, what remains to be creating challenges and what additional changes may very well be made to the framework.

“Jockeys on the entire have proven that they’re able to adapt to the brand new thresholds and deserve nice credit score for this.

“That is greatest exemplified by the very small variety of offences incurred all through the game’s predominant competition occasions, when jockeys are using beneath essentially the most intense of competitors.

“Whereas some riders will inevitably take extra time to adapt to the brand new guidelines, the penalties for a number of referrals are designed to behave as a major deterrent in the direction of jockeys committing a number of offences. They’re additionally an incentive for riders to alter their fashion.

“The core goals of the brand new guidelines embrace bringing about an general enchancment in using requirements and making certain races are run pretty and inside the guidelines.”