3 British jockeys violate new whip rules
October 12, 2011LONDON (AP) - Three jockeys violated British horse racing's new whip rules and have been suspended by the British Horseracing Authority.
Richard Hughes and Kieren Fox were banned for a combined total of 20 days for overuse of the whip at Windsor on Monday. Jockey Natalia Gemelova was given a seven-day suspension for the same reason Wednesday.
All three forfeit their riding fee and prize-money percentage.
Under rules implemented for the first time Monday, jockeys are allowed a maximum eight strokes of the whip in jump races and seven on the flats, roughly half the amount that could be used previously.
Britain's horse racing authority introduced the new rules after a 10-month review found the current regulations to be a weak deterrent.